FP Enforcement

[TinkSassy]

At WDW they have started enforcing the time window on the FP. Have a one day fast stop during Easter week. Just want to plan appropriately - have they started enforcing the FP end time at DL too?

 

[coaches24]

At this time there are no known plans to enforce FP times at DL.

 

[wvnative]

We were just here for 5 days and they were not enforcing.

 

[candy0730]

We are here now and have not had any trouble using fastpasses late - some even as late as 11 hours after the return time.

 

[TinkSassy]

Thanks! With only one day - it will be good to be able to count on them being good all day.

 

[farmgirljen]

Why not just use them correctly to begin with?

 

[HydroGuy]

Why not just use them correctly to begin with?

Why not correctly always follow the speed limit and never go above?

Why not correctly always cross streets only in cross-walks and when the green "walk" sign is active?

Why not correctly never get in the 10 items or less lane at the grocery store when you have 11 items?

 

[SeattleTink]

Why not just use them correctly to begin with?

It would seem to me, in my humble opinion, you have not discovered the fantastic ease in which you can experience DLR with the use of FastPass after the expiration time. It completely changes how you tour the parks, all for the better.

For years, CM's have allowed late arrivals...they hardly ever blink an eye when you show up 2, 4, 6, 10 hours later. Never once has a CM said anything to us....ever.

The ability to use FastPasses at a later time has been a fantastic (unwritten) perk.

If indeed the powers that be decide to start enforcing the late arrivals, I like many others will be disappointed, but will comply with the new rules.

Up until that time, I will take full advantage of this perk. In no way do I feel like I breaking a rule (I'm sure others on this board agree), when clearly the CM's currently condone this process.

 

[farmgirljen]

hmm... How stupid of me to actually do what was suggested on the FP ticket and return to ride the rides when it said...

 

[coaches24]

hmm... How stupid of me to actually do what was suggested on the FP ticket and return to ride the rides when it said...

Why the attitude? I have never used a FP late but it doesnt bother me in the least that others do. If its allowed by the CMs then why shouldnt they do it? I understand your point of following what it says but if they are going to allow it then why get upset at other people for taking advantage? No reason to give the attitude. Do what you do and let them do what they do.

 

[dismom73]

I, like many others, use the late return time to my benefit also. For example, say you get a FP for Space Mtn with a return time of 2-3pm, it's 11am, you finish up all the other rides in Tomorrowland, head over to Adventureland hit a few rides there. You then decided it's time for lunch, so you decide to go to Hungry Bear since you are on that side of the park and they have the BEST sweet potato fries! You are sitting enjoying your lunch, watching your children feed the very expensive, very tasty fries to the ducks and you notice it's 2:45. I myself am not going to scarf down the rest of my lunch round my kids up in the middle of a kodak moment and run to other side of the park knocking over people in my way to get to Space Mtn by 3o'clock. Instead I, and the ducks, will finish our lunch, head back to Tomorrow land, after maybe going on Pirates and stroll up to the FP line. I too will happily follow the rules, if and when they change them, but right now it's not a rule at DL.

 

[sonnyjane]

hmm... How stupid of me to actually do what was suggested on the FP ticket and return to ride the rides when it said...

I mentioned this in the "big thread" about this issue, but I'll mention it here as well. Disney has every right to enforce absolutely everything that it says, be it on ticket media, on their website, or information disseminated through their CM's. Just keep in mind, when being sanctimonious, that it is technically written that NO outside food should be brought into the parks. It is written that guests staying on-site will get access to ONE Magic Morning during their stay, and it is written that FP's should be used during their return window. Disney has chosen to be lax about the enforcement of these things, which is greatly to the benefit of park guests. Heck, it's even written that California Adventure opens at 10:00 AM, but they start letting guests in at 9:30 instead. Would you stand outside the turnstiles watching other guests enter DCA and start having fun while you camped out for an extra 30 minutes just to make sure you didn't enter the park before 10? Almost certainly no, because as long as Disneyland is allowing it, it's not breaking a rule!

If Disneyland knowingly looks the other way on these policies, then in my opinion, you're not breaking the rules if you bring in that granola bar that the CM's SEE when they inspect your bag, or when you stay at Paradise Pier and to go TWO Magic Mornings instead of just one by flashing your room key.

As a PP mentioned, if they start enforcing the FP return window, then I will happily oblige, but right now they are not, so until then, I'll continue to return at my leisure.

 

[kelmac284]

One thing I think is interesting is that if you are only allowed one MM then why when checking in to the hotels do they TELL You you can go every day there is one during your stay??? I mean I realize with fp's and food and such it is just kind of unsaid but why would the hotels tell you this if it was not official policy?

And I agree with the others I don't see why people get upset that people aren't following the "rules" on the fp. If the cm's don't have a problem with it then I don't see what the big deal is AND I agree it has made our touring SO much nicer not living by such a strict schedule. In fact I almost wish it was easier to just walk up to ANY of the restaurants when you were hungry and get in. That is one thing about DW that is a bit annoying that you HAVE to pretty much make ADRS and sometimes you just plain aren't hungry when it is time. But that's a whole other topic LOL.

 

[sonnyjane]

One thing I think is interesting is that if you are only allowed one MM then why when checking in to the hotels do they TELL You you can go every day there is one during your stay??? I mean I realize with fp's and food and such it is just kind of unsaid but why would the hotels tell you this if it was not official policy?

It's actually really quite similar to the FP policy, in my opinion! It is an unadvertised perk, so if you were to ask a CM on the phone before checking in, they are only allowed to tell you that you'll get one MM, and that's what's written online as well. If you were to ask a CM when you get your FP from the machine when you should return, they would only be allowed to tell you to come back during the official window, as that's what's written. Then, the CM checking you into the hotel, and the CM checking your FP, can let you in on the "unofficial" policy after the fact, but they just aren't allowed to tell you about it up front.

ETA: I'm always one to admit I'm wrong, and I just went to Disneyland's website and it looks like they have indeed changed the wording about their MM/on-site policy. It used to say "one MM", but now it just says that MM entry is a perk, and does not specify a limit. The layout of the website is different as well than I remember, so this is something new in the last month or two.

 

[JoQuo711]

I think as a hotel guest the policy is that you can go to whatever magic mornings fall during your stay. The one magic morning thing is if you buy a multi-day ticket. You can enter early once on a multi-day ticket, whether or not you're staying at one of the hotels...at least that was my interpretation.

 

[farmgirljen]

I just want to clarfiy that i was not trying to have an attitude-at least not until hydro guy brought up such things as speed limits, cross walks, and express lines at grocery stores. I have been to the parks 3 times, in the last 4 years(my first trip ever was in 09) I am 3 days away from another trip. NEVER in all this time until recently when it came out that they were going ot be cracking down on the return times have I read that people could openly ignore the suggested return time and just come back whenever they felt like it. That actually does make me feel stupid for having thrown away perfectly good fast passes on a prior trip because we were way past the window for return time. Had we known about this "perk" we certainly could have tried using them. For what it's worth I am a follow the rules kind of person, but do understand the whole idea of "if Disney isn't enforcing it then why not try it".. I guess part of me hates the idea of potentially being that person who gets turned away for not returning in the time frame, and wasting a ticket when I could have ridden it if I had come back when i was supposed to.... because then not only would I have missed the ride, but also I would have a disspointed kiddo who would probably tell me that I should have just followed the rules, lol. (gee mom, if you were driving slower, you would not have gotten that ticket) Again, not trying to come across with an attitude...just trying to process it all.

 

[SeattleTink]

Jen, the thing to remember is there is now flexibility! You can use your FastPasses within in the time printed on them...or you can come back later.

I think of using FastPass beyond the time printed more like the "secret menu" at In n Out burger. Getting a double double "animal" style isn't on the menu, but you can still get it....FastPass for years has been our little "secret".

Just think of the possibilities and enjoy not having to RUSH back to Space Mountain because a piece of paper says you have to or you will forfeit your fastpass.

It will change the way you enjoy the parks.

I hope you have a fabulous trip!

Barbi

 

[DLR29]

I think as a hotel guest the policy is that you can go to whatever magic mornings fall during your stay. The one magic morning thing is if you buy a multi-day ticket. You can enter early once on a multi-day ticket, whether or not you're staying at one of the hotels...at least that was my interpretation.

Yes, this is correct. However, the comparison is that Disney has never publicly, explicitly stated this MM onsite policy on their website or when you call them or look it up. I'm pretty sure when you call and ask about MM policy, they tell you that you get 1 MM. They might tell you otherwise at check-in or they may not (I haven't stayed at a Disney hotel in a while).

It's a matter of what's in writing vs. what is in actuality.

 

[HydroGuy]

I just want to clarfiy that i was not trying to have an attitude-at least not until hydro guy brought up such things as speed limits, cross walks, and express lines at grocery stores.

Sorry but it seemed to me that the attitude started with the first question - namely that one must follow a rule (or law) 100% within the printed or known boundaries - in order to be "correctly" following it. I disagree and gave three common examples. In fact two of the examples I gave are more than a printed reservation time like FP - they are laws.

SonnyJane has a better analogy than I gave because it relates to Disney - regarding DCA's posted 10AM opening but actual 9:30AM opening and in fact 9AM opening (for hotel guests) since the summer of 2010 when WOC opened.

 

[mickeymom629]

SonnyJane has a better analogy than I gave because it relates to Disney - regarding DCA's posted 10AM opening but actual 9:30AM opening and in fact 9AM opening (for hotel guests) since the summer of 2010 when WOC opened.

Really?! We are staying at VGC and I would not have known to try to get in at 9!

Thanks!