Got harassed twice yesterday about expired fastpasses

[MommyLove]

We used RSR FP @ 9pm when the stated time was 10:40-11:40am. This was on July 31. The CM informed me that they were anticipating enforcing them after the summer and were starting to let guests know. We were permitted to ride no problem but was just given this heads up. It may be coming folks, try not to jump from a ledge!

I'd be someone you'd have to talk down if they started enforcing FP window times at DL.

Folks, perception is reality. If you have virtually every cast member allowing "expired" fast passes to be used then that is the rule. They obviously have no problem with it or else they would crack down on their employees. The fact that they had to make an official announcement at WDW when they started enforcing them proves that allowing them was the rule, albeit an unwritten one.

Totally agree.

 

[Chase8705]

I heard that it doesn't matter if your fast pass is expired, they would still be able to take it. I have never tested this theory but that's what I heard.

 

[FlameGirl]

The OP sure is taking a lot of flack for using the term "harrassed", and has even backed down off of that description already. Good grief.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

First off, sorry OP but you were not harassed in my opinion. Second this is very simple for me, if you can't use your FP during the time, don't get it. I say kudos to WDW for enforcing the return times, and I hope DLR will start doing the same.

Ditto!!! There is a time slot on your FP for a reason, what's the point for having them if no one follows the RULE!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Actually, you couldn't be more wrong. The official policy at DLR is to accept the Fast Pass late. In WDW, a new policy was put in place to stick to the time on the FP. Ideally, it would be great if everyone stuck to the time on the pass. In order to stay consistent, at this time, DLR should NEVER question you for using a FP late.

I am not going to get into a debate with you. It's just not that important of an issue to me.

The simple fact is that the rules of using a fastpass is printed directly on it: "Return anytime between --:-- and --:--." Anything beyond that window is an exception to the rule. Fastpasses have been accepted late (an exception to the rule) as a courtesy to guests, but the official policy is that they are to be used within the printed window.

- Dreams

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

Folks, perception is reality. If you have virtually every cast member allowing "expired" fast passes to be used then that is the rule. They obviously have no problem with it or else they would crack down on their employees. The fact that they had to make an official announcement at WDW when they started enforcing them proves that allowing them was the rule, albeit an unwritten one. Heck, maybe it is a written rule in some CM handbook since the vast majority of them seem to follow it so well.

This. If they are breaking a rule then they need to retrain almost all of their CMs.

If the rule is in fact a rule, but if they are allowing people on just for customer service reasons, the rule is still a rule and can be enforced without prior notification, really. However the CMs should not encourage people to show up later and break the official rule.

My personal opinion is Disneyland doesn't NEED to enforce the FPs. There is not mass chaos related to people showing up late for FPs. I've never seen a FP line get out of control just because everyone decided to show up all at the same time, though I guess that is the worst case scenario. I fear that in an attempt to exert some control on the crowds, it would actually get worse. I guess if they are implementing a new system that really only works well when time are enforced then I can see the issue. But that seems to be a step backward in my opinion. I'm a big fan of not fixing what isn't broken.

 

[caltex]

It depends on the CM that handles the FPs. My sister's family and mine were able to use expired FPs at GRR and BTMRR last week.

 

[ultimate_ed]

Just got back from our first trip to Disneyland last week. Spent five days between the two parks. Never once did a CM give us a second glance when we came with "expired" fastpasses.

 

[rramstad]

Two quick observations... and an opinion.

Our party of six was there for six days in mid July and used a lot of FP and never had any issues or problems with using FP outside the window.

It's kind of funny, I've been on this board just long enough that it seems like this thread comes around about every three months... and it always descends into the same bigger picture discussion.

My opinion, for me personally and my family, if the FP return times were enforced, it would greatly interfere with our ability to move around DL and DCA. It is not at all uncommon for us to move from one side of a park to the other, or from one park to the other, all while an FP is "ripening". It's actually very uncommon for us to collect an FP and end up using it in the original window, because we usually find ourselves moving around to other parts of DLR. Long story short, if they simply started enforcing FP return times, it would make DLR vacations into a logistical nightmare with constant checking of watches, and calibrations of how long it takes to walk from one area to another -- and honestly, I just don't think it would improve the average visitors experience all that much, maybe, just maybe, it might mean a 10 minute shorter FP return line late in the day, that's about all the advantage that would happen from enforcing return FP times.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

I see the idea of letting people on after the expired time a complete waste of the idea behind the system. I was of the understanding that the idea was help stagger people going on the ride by giving preferential treatment if you agree to come back at a later time. If instead everyone who has a pass can show up anytime after their stated time it creates a situation where a very large group could appear at the same time and flood the ride. That being said, if you are not going to enforce it and never have enforced it, then why bother putting an expiry on it?

 

[HydroGuy]

I see the idea of letting people on after the expired time a complete waste of the idea behind the system. I was of the understanding that the idea was help stagger people going on the ride by giving preferential treatment if you agree to come back at a later time. If instead everyone who has a pass can show up anytime after their stated time it creates a situation where a very large group could appear at the same time and flood the ride. That being said, if you are not going to enforce it and never have enforced it, then why bother putting an expiry on it?

Probably for similar reasons that for many years DCA posted an opening time of 10AM but actually opened at 9:30AM. And why for many years the official line was Disney hotel guests got only one Magic Morning but in practice they allowed you to have multiple. Disney does things sometimes that differ from what is written down somewhere.

And the PP is right. This thread comes up every few months and the same arguments are put forth. Just kind of recycles.

Finally, if you read the WDW forum there is a frequent poster there who has said for many years that he knows personally (a relative - he even gives his name) someone on the Disney team that decided FP policy. And that the reason the expiry time was put on FPs was because people feel better when there is an expiry time. Not because they intended to enforce it.

 

[barrance]

You all can debate the pros and cons of FPs and enforcing/not enforcing return times all you want, but the crystal clear, no-buts-about-it fact that you can't deny is that a CM has the right to enforce the return time if he so chooses.

Just because something has been allowed previously in "practice" doesn't make it a "rule". I can't comprehend how someone can state that the official rule at DLR is to accept FP late when the FP site says no such thing. In fact, it clearly states "Go to the FASTPASS Return queue at your Return Time". It makes no exception for returning late.

Now, I just returned from DL/CA two weeks ago and I went on a number of rides, including RSR using FPs beyond the return time and I sailed through with no problems, but if I were stopped, I would have had no issues with the CM enforcing the return time. Sure, we can all be upset that DL may be changing their practice after all these years being lax on enforcing return times, but the bottom line is, they are clearly within their right to do so and certainly not harassment (this is not directed at the OP, who already retracted the word, but to the others who still feel like they are being wronged somehow).

 

[Abrooks86]

Wow! I had NO idea they even let you use the FP after it expired! It was never a hectic vacation or anything just because we would keep time and remind ourselves what time to return to the line. Actually, if you plan smartly, don't go to DCA and wait in line for RR at 3pm if you have a Space Mountain FP for 345-445. To me it doesn't make sense that they should allow people to use the passes after they are expired because what then, everyone who has a FP decides they want to ride it at the same time makin a same wait time.

 

[damo]

Wow! I had NO idea they even let you use the FP after it expired! It was never a hectic vacation or anything just because we would keep time and remind ourselves what time to return to the line. Actually, if you plan smartly, don't go to DCA and wait in line for RR at 3pm if you have a Space Mountain FP for 345-445. To me it doesn't make sense that they should allow people to use the passes after they are expired because what then, everyone who has a FP decides they want to ride it at the same time makin a same wait time.

Everyone doesn't wait. If you don't ride when your fastpass time arrives, someone else basically just goes ahead of you in line. It technically doesn't change the length of the line. You are just letting those people who would have been behind you in the fastpass line, go in front of you.

 

[DarthMole]

Wow! I had NO idea they even let you use the FP after it expired! It was never a hectic vacation or anything just because we would keep time and remind ourselves what time to return to the line. Actually, if you plan smartly, don't go to DCA and wait in line for RR at 3pm if you have a Space Mountain FP for 345-445. To me it doesn't make sense that they should allow people to use the passes after they are expired because what then, everyone who has a FP decides they want to ride it at the same time makin a same wait time.

Two years ago we didn't know about the unwritten rule and made it back during the return window. It wasn't a big deal at the time. This past trip, thanks to the fine folks around here, we went in knowing the FP return times were not enforced. It really freed us up to explore the park at our own pace collecting FPs when we wanted and using them virtually when we wanted. Not once did I experience a mad rush of expired FP users storming the gates causing a huge delay. I actually sighed a little walking up to Space Mountain with my FP when I saw about 8 people in front of me. They really have the system worked out pretty well as it is with the open ended return time. I believe the majority of visitors do use them during the return window which helps make the system run smoothly. We did get turned down once at Splash Mountain. My wife went to the photo booth line to get an earlier pic added to our PP+ and I stayed back to see if anyone else got turned away. I watched about 30 people enter Splash Mountain right after with no incident so I know all 30 of those people were within their window. I believe that if it's not broke, don't fix it. The system as it stands right now doesn't appear to be broken except for a few CMs who are unaware of the unwritten rule.

 

[DarthMole]

You all can debate the pros and cons of FPs and enforcing/not enforcing return times all you want, but the crystal clear, no-buts-about-it fact that you can't deny is that a CM has the right to enforce the return time if he so chooses.

Just because something has been allowed previously in "practice" doesn't make it a "rule". I can't comprehend how someone can state that the official rule at DLR is to accept FP late when the FP site says no such thing. In fact, it clearly states "Go to the FASTPASS Return queue at your Return Time". It makes no exception for returning late.

It should not be at the CM's discretion to enforce the rule or not. That is poor customer service. Either they all enforce it or they all don't enforce it. That is a corporate/management issue, not one with the individual CM unless the CM knows it's supposed to be allowed however decides to ignore the unwritten "rule".

 

[blackjackdelta]

Precedence:The condition of being considered more important than someone or something else; priority in rank.

I can not remember when I have not been able to do this. Some times CM feel empowered to make statements, so when there are 12-18K of them, an assertion of a rule must be enforced by policy/aka management.

I hope they keep things the way they are because it seems many people do not know other than disney propaganda.

Jack

 

[CrazyDuck]

At grizzly the pass was for 10am and we were there at 3pm. She first asked if we were annual pass holders and we said yes. She then said they are going to start going by the actual time because it works so well at Disney world. She then said she would let us pass this one time. It was like she was trying to scare us. We have been here all week and those are the only 2 times it happened.

This is the part I find strange... I think that if they were going to let anyone go it would be those that are on gate tickets because those would be the ones less familiar with the rules. If anything I would expect them to be more strict with the annual pass holders because you guys should know the rules! Just sayin'

 

[MaloCS]

It should not be at the CM's discretion to enforce the rule or not. That is poor customer service. Either they all enforce it or they all don't enforce it. That is a corporate/management issue, not one with the individual CM unless the CM knows it's supposed to be allowed however decides to ignore the unwritten "rule".

I agree 100%.

The decision to allow open ended FastPasses should not be left up to individual employees. With the technology that is at Disneyland's disposal the kiosks should be able to distribute either a 'windowed' or 'open ended' FastPass based upon any number of factors. This removes all doubt from the process and provides a consistent experience thought the park. Additionally, getting that 'open ended' FastPass would be like Charlie finding his Golden Ticket.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

I see the idea of letting people on after the expired time a complete waste of the idea behind the system. I was of the understanding that the idea was help stagger people going on the ride by giving preferential treatment if you agree to come back at a later time. If instead everyone who has a pass can show up anytime after their stated time it creates a situation where a very large group could appear at the same time and flood the ride. That being said, if you are not going to enforce it and never have enforced it, then why bother putting an expiry on it?

It does help to stagger people. If anything, allowing people to show up whenever they want after the expiration, staggers them out even more. Yes the worst case scenario is every single person with a valid fast pass shows up for a single ride. But has that happened? No. Maybe the FP line turns into a 10-20 minute wait. So if the FP system works as it is, and let's be honest - it works well, then what does DL have to fix?

This thread/conversation would be more constructive if we knew how many FPs are handed out for each return time.