"gathering" fast passes???

[skier_pete]

Specifically, it says:

"Please enter the FASTPASS (tm) entrance at the attraction between the times noted on the other side.

Cannot accept early arrivals. Valid only on date printed."

Yup..exactly right. As I said - CAN'T use it early, or another day. And Disney is asking very nicely for you to return during the time - but if the rules were that you can't use it late - that would be stated, wouldn't it?

I supposed based on the phrasing I am being rude using it late, since Disney is asking me very politely to return during the window and I am not to. Of course, my 7 year old DD asks me to get her an IPod - then she adds "Please" thinking that should make it happen. "Please" is the polite way to ask for something, but doesn't mean that you will get it. Sorry Disney!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

With the very recent new "lowered capacity" situation at TSM

Wait...what? What's happening at TSM that they are lowering capacity?

 

[Robo]

Wait...what? What's happening at TSM that they are lowering capacity?

They changed (during a recent refurb) some of the load and/or unload design (gates?) and that, due to the extra time involved in the load/unload procedure, lowered the passengers-per-hour figures.

 

[DavidNYC]

If Disney ever thought it was a problem with late fast pass returners, they would change the rules. But apparently, it all evens itself out in the aggregate. Same with rider switch passes. Disney lets you use those the rest of the day although many here would say the waiting party should ride immediately after the first party.

Disney does a good job at balancing the need for rules with convenience to the individual. They decided allowing late fast pass returns can provide a big convenience to some guests without really causing a detriment to others.

On our last trip, we used rider switch a lot but instead of one group riding and then the other immediately, we let our companions ride while we held our rider switch passes for later in the day. It allowed them to ride while getting the babies out of the park on time for their nap. When I asked about how it worked on the board before the trip, a lot of people got so up in arms about this plan saying it violated the spirit of how you're supposed to use rider switch. However, at the park, the cast members said that it was perfectly fine to do it that way - that's why they give you the whole day. Again - Disney could have made it more restrictive but they recognized they could give a guest much more flexibility without affecting anyone else in the aggregate.

So basically, it Disney allows it - go for it!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

They changed (during a recent refurb) some of the load and/or unload design (gates?)

Ah, OK

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Ride: "The 90 minute wait ride".

This ride loads 300 people an hour. There are 449 people in the line. It is 11AM.

Since we don't know the dynamics of the park this day, let's assume the line for the ride is always full. The park is open from 9AM to 9PM. 3600 will ride this ride today (300 people/hour * 12 hours).

Example 1: You get in Stand By Line at 11AM. There are 449 people ahead of you. 600 people already rode the ride today (9AM - 11AM). You wait 90 minutes and ride the ride. By the time you get on the ride (12:30PM), 950 people will have ridden. Between 12:30PM and 9PM, 2550 more people will ride after you. Total: 3600 (600 before 11AM + 449 in line + you + 2550 after you)


Example 2: You get a FastPass. It instructs you to arrive back no earlier than 90 minutes. At 12:30PM, you get in the FastPass line. There is no one else ahead of you in the FastPass line. The 449 people in line ahead of you get to ride the ride, and then it is your turn. Between 12:30PM and 9PM (8.5 hours), 2550 (300 * 8.5) more people will ride after you. Total: 3600 (600 before 11AM + 449 in line + you + 2550 after you)

Example 3: You get a FastPass. You come back at 1:30PM, which is at the end of your window. There is no one else ahead of you in the FastPass line. The 449 people originally in line ahead of you ride the ride, plus an additional 300 (1 hour window * 300) people who got in line between the start and end of your window. Between 1:30PM and 9PM (7.5 hours), 2250 (300 * 7.5) will ride the ride. Total: 3600 (600 before 11AM + 449 in line when you get your FastPass + another 300 during your window + you + 2250 after you)

Example 4: You get a FastPass. You come back at 5PM, which is after your window. There is no one else ahead of you in the FastPass line. The 449 people originally in line ahead of you ride the ride, plus an additional 1350 (4.5 hours * 300) people who got in line between the start your window and 5PM. Between 5PM and 9PM (4 hours), 1200 (300 * 4) will ride the ride. Total: 3600 (600 before 11AM + 449 in line when you get your FastPass + another 1350 during your window + you + 1200 after you)

Basically, by coming after your window, you are letting more people "virtually" in front if you. It's like standing in line, and when it's your turn, standing aside and letting more people ride (maybe because you are waiting for someone farther back in the line). I see no problem with coming after the end of your window.

 

[quirty30]

Ok, hypothetical question and I'm sure it's been posed before - what if EVERYONE holding a FP for a given ride waited until the last hour or so of the day to use it? It's possible, but not at all probable. And this is really the only scenario I can think of that would "throw things off." I'm sure that Disney took this into consideration and that the majority of people getting a Fastpass want to use them sooner rather than later.

 

[fairyprincess88]

The ADR/Fastpass posts reminded me of a funny CM converstion this July. We had ADRs at Le Cellier and while passing Test Track saw that the return time would fit perfectly for right after dinner so we snagged a set. Went to our ADR and Le Cellier was backed up so we ended waiting a long bit for our table. So of course we were late returning to Test Track.

Now I knew from here that late returns were usually more than ok, but being someone who has always used them in the printed time frame I felt the need to apologize for being late. I told the CM, "I know we're late sorry." The CM looked at the FP and then at me and said, "and why exactly are you late may I ask?" I was thinking, "Oh crap maybe the DIS was wrong" and I explained the ADR delay and suddenly the CM smiles real big and says, "oooh Le Cellier, did you have the cheese soup? I love the cheese soup." When I said that I also loved it but no because it was too hot for soup he clinched my fastpass tight in his hand and in the best Seinfeld Soup Nazi voice ever declared, "No soup! No ride for you!" It was hysterical. We kept going back and forth with, "But I do love the soup" and "No ride for you". He of course let us on the ride but the little exchange with him I think was far more entertaining.

 

[doconeill]

This subject fascinates me - I was a Math Science major in college (which subject included queueing theory) and I'd love to read about more of the technical details.

Here is my analysis on why late Fastpasses don't really matter:

Why using a late FASTPASS doesn't matter!

FlightlessDuck's post above covers it in much less text though...late FP use actually lets more standby people through quicker.

Wait...what? What's happening at TSM that they are lowering capacity?

They changed (during a recent refurb) some of the load and/or unload design (gates?) and that, due to the extra time involved in the load/unload procedure, lowered the passengers-per-hour figures.

I looked at this when I was there two weeks ago. There was nothing done on the exit side (I had heard there were "exit gates" added). On the loading side, there are powered gates like at most other rides where they queue you up waiting for a vehicle, like at EE, RNRC, etc. I can't recall if they were there before or not, but that could be the change that makes things slightly slower. They may not open those gates until the previous occupants have cleared the vehicle.

In any case, it does seem that the load rate was lowered, so the FP rate was also recalculated.