FP grace period

[tigeramy75]

We've always used "late" FPs prior to this trip, and I was pretty worried about how the new policy would affect us, but I have to say, it worked out really well for us. It wasn't nearly as much trouble as I had thought it would be. We intended all week to test the 15-minute grace period, but we chickened out. I didn't want to deal with the wrath of my angry sons if we were denied entrance to TSMM or Splash Mountain!!!

As of Sunday, they did still have that little "GP" time printed in the corner, though. Any idea whether that's temporary, while everyone adjusts to the new (or newly enforced) FP rules?

 

[nutty4wdw]

yes, i was asking about the 15 minute grace period. sorry if it was confusing. if the pass rt is 1:00-2:00 then according to the grace period we can still ride up to 2:15. has anyone been denied during that 15 min time after the 1 hour window.

 

[seashoreCM]

we actually got lucky on a recent visit to one of the parks (probably MK but might have been Epcot) and got to use a set of FPs about 30 min after they'd expired. Sorry I can't remember the details but I know for sure it was after the expiration time because I was wholly expecting to be denied entrance.

Did the CM check the fastpass at all?

Maybe there was a ride shutdown earlier and on that occasion the CMs were told to stop checking expiration times for the rest of that day.

 

[buzzCMlightyear]

In the bottom right-hand corner of the Fast Pass, there is a time printed in very small numbers. This time is always 15 minutes after the end of the 1-hour window.

So I've just assumed that this is the time which the CM actually checks (the print being so small that this may be the reason why CMs were observed to be checking the FP so carefully....).

I can honestly tell you I have never once looked at that small time on the bottom while checking. I can easily add 15 to a number.


But FYI for people asking, if you show up at 1:16 for a FP time ending at 1, you will be turned away by me with the explanation that the fastpass expired at 1:00 and you are 16 minutes late, not 1 minute late.

 

[North of Mouse]

How would you be able to "see" them grant an exception? Were you able to see over their shoulder to read the time? I *think* the OP is asking if there is the rumored 15 minute grace period, nothing more. The "use later in the day" ship sailed 2 months ago.

No, I did not "see" the FP time, but the guy I spoke with right before getting in the final line up "was" looking just as closely as the front CM that let people through. HE is the one said the hour time line was being "strictly" enforced, and I had no reason to not believe him, especially when the couple in front of me questioned him and then his answer. Does that clarify my meaning more, and what I actually "saw" and "heard"? I'm sure that a few may slip through, but I doubt it would be enough to count on it, and would not call it an official "grace period". That would open up the way to gradually go back to the old way, and I doubt not. If they slip through the first CM, there is a double check when they take the FP.

 

[missoverexcited]

No, I did not "see" the FP time, but the guy I spoke with right before getting in the final line up "was" looking just as closely as the front CM that let people through. HE is the one said the hour time line was being "strictly" enforced, and I had no reason to not believe him, especially when the couple in front of me questioned him and then his answer. Does that clarify my meaning more, and what I actually "saw" and "heard"? I'm sure that a few may slip through, but I doubt it would be enough to count on it, and would not call it an official "grace period". That would open up the way to gradually go back to the old way, and I doubt not. If they slip through the first CM, there is a double check when they take the FP.

Since its printed right on the fastpass, that seems pretty official to me.

 

[mom2rtk]

No, I did not "see" the FP time, but the guy I spoke with right before getting in the final line up "was" looking just as closely as the front CM that let people through. HE is the one said the hour time line was being "strictly" enforced, and I had no reason to not believe him, especially when the couple in front of me questioned him and then his answer. Does that clarify my meaning more, and what I actually "saw" and "heard"? I'm sure that a few may slip through, but I doubt it would be enough to count on it, and would not call it an official "grace period". That would open up the way to gradually go back to the old way, and I doubt not. If they slip through the first CM, there is a double check when they take the FP.

Allowing a standard 15 minute grace period is not even remotely close to the old "all day" grace period.

 

[g-dad66]

Allowing a standard 15 minute grace period is not even remotely close to the old "all day" grace period.

But we are all looking forward to the 15-minute-abuse-of-expired-fast-passes morality debates, right?

It was downright depressing to think that the FP abuse threads were a thing of the past.

 

[goofyernmost]

But we are all looking forward to the 15-minute-abuse-of-expired-fast-passes morality debates, right?

It was downright depressing to think that the FP abuse threads were a thing of the past.

You'll never have to worry about that. Note the post below.

we actually got lucky on a recent visit to one of the parks (probably MK but might have been Epcot) and got to use a set of FPs about 30 min after they'd expired. Sorry I can't remember the details but I know for sure it was after the expiration time because I was wholly expecting to be denied entrance.

Well, you got lucky and were able to go in. My question is why? Why, when you obviously knew the rules would you even attempt to use the pass. At what point in time do people realize that this is Disney's place. They can drop the 15 minute grace period in a heart beat. Why keep testing/pushing it? I personally can't wait for the FP return machines to be placed at the attractions so the CM's have a backup for refusal. They are put in some very uncomfortable, awkward spots by Guests and that shouldn't be happening.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We were at WDW in late April, and were allowed into a FP line five minutes early once.

But we never showed up late.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, you got lucky and were able to go in. My question is why? Why, when you obviously knew the rules would you even attempt to use the pass. At what point in time do people realize that this is Disney's place. They can drop the 15 minute grace period in a heart beat. Why keep testing/pushing it? I personally can't wait for the FP return machines to be placed at the attractions so the CM's have a backup for refusal. They are put in some very uncomfortable, awkward spots by Guests and that shouldn't be happening.

I think it's helpful to know. If you're running behind because of a sudden downpour, or any one of a million other possible reasons..... it's helpful to know whether it's worth a sprint across the park to try and make it before that 15 minute grace period is up.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it's helpful to know. If you're running behind because of a sudden downpour, or any one of a million other possible reasons..... it's helpful to know whether it's worth a sprint across the park to try and make it before that 15 minute grace period is up.

I can't imagine anyone would think their safety was less important than making it across the park to ride a ride. At that point wouldn't you throw you hands up and go "Oh crap, guess we are missing that ride!"?

I just know if it was a ride that I really really wanted to go on, I would make sure I was there before the last 2 minutes of the listed FP use time. Sure sometimes stuff happens, but most of it can be avoided by a little planning. And if you can't avoid it, it can be chalked up to thems the breaks. As I had to do last time I wanted to ride BTMRR and it was down because some idiot decide to try and climb out after it was moving.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't imagine anyone would think their safety was less important than making it across the park to ride a ride. At that point wouldn't you throw you hands up and go "Oh crap, guess we are missing that ride!"?

I just know if it was a ride that I really really wanted to go on, I would make sure I was there before the last 2 minutes of the listed FP use time. Sure sometimes stuff happens, but most of it can be avoided by a little planning. And if you can't avoid it, it can be chalked up to thems the breaks. As I had to do last time I wanted to ride BTMRR and it was down because some idiot decide to try and climb out after it was moving.

I understand, I'm a poor planner. But I'll just have to find a way to cope.

 

[maxiesmom]

I understand, I'm a poor planner. But I'll just have to find a way to cope.

I'm not sure where on earth you got that from. I think I said stuff happens, and sometimes you just have to deal.

I'm thinking we should all be happy Disney even decided to have a grace period of any kind. They didn't have to. I'm sure there are a million reasons people could miss their FP window, even with the grace period included. However we all have to learn to work with it. Being angry and upset about it, and making a list of reason why we could miss our FP windows helps nothing.

 

[Sydnerella]

Oh and despite the messy park criss crossing we did for headliners under FP enforcement and heavy SB crowds in late March, we never showed up later than the window - not even in the grace period - to know what they would do.

Pretty amazing from a previous evil violator such as myself! Perhaps there is hope for us...

Sydnerella's Mama

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm not sure where on earth you got that from. I think I said stuff happens, and sometimes you just have to deal.

I must have misunderstood. That's how I read this:

I just know if it was a ride that I really really wanted to go on, I would make sure I was there before the last 2 minutes of the listed FP use time. Sure sometimes stuff happens, but most of it can be avoided by a little planning.

 

[maxiesmom]

I must have misunderstood. That's how I read this:

I didn't say you were a poor planner, which is what you stated. I did say most things could be avoided by planning, but sometimes stuff just happened.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

I know you asked about being turned away, but I thought I'd chime in anyway. We used a FP 3 minutes after our time expired. We didn't plan it that way;it just happened. There was no emergency, we just misjudged our time. We rushed to get to TSM, and when I noticed their clock had Y:33 (Fp was from X:30-Y:30) I politely asked if we were too late. Obviously we were, but being on DIS I figured we may have had the 15 minute grace period. Again, I wasn't trying to "break any rules". If we would've been told no I would've said ok and walked away. We were told "you're a little late but you can go in", we thanked the cast member, and we went on our way.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I can't imagine anyone would think their safety was less important than making it across the park to ride a ride. At that point wouldn't you throw you hands up and go "Oh crap, guess we are missing that ride!"?

I just know if it was a ride that I really really wanted to go on, I would make sure I was there before the last 2 minutes of the listed FP use time. Sure sometimes stuff happens, but most of it can be avoided by a little planning. And if you can't avoid it, it can be chalked up to thems the breaks. As I had to do last time I wanted to ride BTMRR and it was down because some idiot decide to try and climb out after it was moving.

How on earth would it not be safe to hustle across the park to make a FP window? People don't actually sprint across the park you know, its just a figure of speech.

 

[maxiesmom]

How on earth would it not be safe to hustle across the park to make a FP window? People don't actually sprint across the park you know, its just a figure of speech.

Someone mentioned being late because of rain. I don't think it would be safe to try to get from one side of the park to another in the rain, or right after the rain. That ground can be very slippery!