Late fastpass no longer accepted?

[TiggerBouncy]

Is it true that they will no longer accept you coming in past your fastpass allocated time? I.E. if the fastpass says 1-3, you used to be able to bring it at 5 and still go on the ride.

I read that they are no longer allowing this (15 minute grace is permitted). Is that true?

So how do people work that? Because I have ended up with meals in the middle of the fastpass time that are across the entire bloomin park and sometimes the wait times (even for those with reservations) can be much longer than expected. We had a wait time of 45 minutes for lunch once at our restrauant (and that was WITH reservation; walkins not allowed!).

Is Disney's stance now "too bad, so sad. Just plan for another vacation and come back because you couldn't get here in the window"?

Are the CM's enforcing this, or is it just written policy?

 

[auprincess]

Yes, they are enforcing it. I can't remember when it started, but I know during our last trip (April 2012) you HAD to be there during the alloted times. We saw people turned away. You will just have to be more diligent on checking return times when you get a FP to make sure it is not going to interfere with a meal or something else you have planned.

 

[smitch425]

Is it true that they will no longer accept you coming in past your fastpass allocated time? I.E. if the fastpass says 1-3, you used to be able to bring it at 5 and still go on the ride.

I read that they are no longer allowing this (15 minute grace is permitted). Is that true?

So how do people work that? Because I have ended up with meals in the middle of the fastpass time that are across the entire bloomin park and sometimes the wait times (even for those with reservations) can be much longer than expected. We had a wait time of 45 minutes for lunch once at our restrauant (and that was WITH reservation; walkins not allowed!).

Is Disney's stance now "too bad, so sad. Just plan for another vacation and come back because you couldn't get here in the window"?

Are the CM's enforcing this, or is it just written policy?

Firmly enforced since March 7, 2012. The grace period is extremely rare, so don't count on it being an option.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is being enforced, and has been for over a year now.

The best thing to do is not take a fast pass if it is at an ADR time, or anytime close to it. Most of us realize that it almost takes an act of God to be seated right at your given time. Plan on using 90 minutes to 2 hours for your ADR.

There have been a few reports of people being allowed to use them late if they were hung up at a meal. You can always show the CM your tab, and ask very nicely if they won't make an exception for you. But it is not a given, by any means.

 

[LaurenT]

Yes, it's being enforced now. I was very perturbed when it first started, but I have to say, it hasn't really interfered with my ability to do everything I want. I do occasionally go cross park to get the FP when the return time is where I want it to be, but I just figure I'm getting extra exercise.
Maybe someday I'll start my own FP runner business....

 

[tlh0726]

Firmly enforced since March 7, 2012. The grace period is extremely rare, so don't count on it being an option.

This!

we saw quite a few people being turned away. One being 5 mins after the window.

 

[Ametista]

They do enforce it and its a pain. It kind of takes away from the whole point of a fast pass. I have twice been stuck in line for a ride that said "30 min" or "20 min", only to have the ride break down. Then you stand there an extra 30 minutes, still waiting, and now your fast pass time is almost up. So you have to ditch the line you wasted an hour in or you have to lose your fast pass. They could at least extend the window times to 3 hours so you didn't have to revolve the whole day around them.

 

[auprincess]

Yes, it's being enforced now. I was very perturbed when it first started, but I have to say, it hasn't really interfered with my ability to do everything I want. I do occasionally go cross park to get the FP when the return time is where I want it to be, but I just figure I'm getting extra exercise.
Maybe someday I'll start my own FP runner business....

I agree! I see that it started about a month before my last trip...and I was sooooo worried about how this would affect us! But it really wasn't a big deal.

 

[LaurenT]

They do enforce it and its a pain. It kind of takes away from the whole point of a fast pass. I have twice been stuck in line for a ride that said "30 min" or "20 min", only to have the ride break down. Then you stand there an extra 30 minutes, still waiting, and now your fast pass time is almost up. So you have to ditch the line you wasted an hour in or you have to lose your fast pass. They could at least extend the window times to 3 hours so you didn't have to revolve the whole day around them.

Yeah, next time don't do that. The CM will give you an anytime FP if you already handed in before the breakdown. If you still have your FP and the ride breaks down, your FP will be good for the rest of the day.

 

[smitch425]

Yeah, next time don't do that. The CM will give you an anytime FP if you already handed in before the breakdown. If you still have your FP and the ride breaks down, your FP will be good for the rest of the day.

I took it to mean she was in a line for some other ride, not the one she had the FP for.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Thanks for the replies, all!

I was worried about the effect this would have, but seems like most people have weathered it without any big hiccups. I guess it was in effect when I was there this last October, but never noticed it.

Probably I just need to relax a little.

 

[LaurenT]

I took it to mean she was in a line for some other ride, not the one she had the FP for.

Oh...well, same thing. I'd show my FP to the CM at the ride I'm at. They know there's a problem. They really do try to make good on it. They gave me an anytime FP without me asking when the monorail was delayed 5 minutes last trip. If the CM couldn't help, I'd stop at GS if it was a big deal (like only shot at TT or something).

 

[Kellykins1218]

Is it true that they will no longer accept you coming in past your fastpass allocated time? I.E. if the fastpass says 1-3, you used to be able to bring it at 5 and still go on the ride.

I read that they are no longer allowing this (15 minute grace is permitted). Is that true?

So how do people work that? Because I have ended up with meals in the middle of the fastpass time that are across the entire bloomin park and sometimes the wait times (even for those with reservations) can be much longer than expected. We had a wait time of 45 minutes for lunch once at our restrauant (and that was WITH reservation; walkins not allowed!).

Is Disney's stance now "too bad, so sad. Just plan for another vacation and come back because you couldn't get here in the window"?

Are the CM's enforcing this, or is it just written policy?

We've always used our fastpasses in their allotted window. It's really not that hard to do.

 

[mesaboy2]

We've always used our fastpasses in their allotted window. It's really not that hard to do.

And before last March, it was really not that necessary to do. For those of us who knew this, it has been a minor adjustment.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

And at Disneyland Paris the FP window is only 30 minutes and there is no grace period. And that has been their rule from when it first opened.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Well I do not like it. Got a fast pass for Toy Story Mania and wanted to see the Lights Motion Action and just made it to Toy Story by 2 minutes!!! That is ridiculous because all I could think of was "" will we make it in time" . And then later I really wanted to see B&B but my FP for TOT was only til 3 so I got there right after we did Toy Story Mania and the FP line was 20 minutes so I missed B&B by 10 minutes.

I love FP, but the window really cut into my touring plan big time.

A 2 hour window would be so much better or a choice of times when we want to come back. One machine could give you 5-6, another 3-4 etc. At least you can plan better.

Or they should structure them differently for each park. Like the MK -since there are more FP rides there the system is fine, but for DHS is stinks because there are tons of shows so they should allow a longer time period. IMHO I don't know what difference it really makes that you need to return during your FP time. I thought the FP lines were horrible and I never experience that when they didn't enforce the times. Tot had a 20 minute wait for a FP when most times its only 20 minutes anyways??? And the same with TT. Thank goodness for the single rider line.

I don't know if I'll like the other system with the RFID as you are only allowed 3 and not for the headliners or the same ride.

 

[disneyboy123]

I'm a bit confused about fastpass times. Is the time on the ticket the time to actually get on the ride or the time to get in the actual fastpass line?

 

[Polydweller]

I'm a bit confused about fastpass times. Is the time on the ticket the time to actually get on the ride or the time to get in the actual fastpass line?

Get in line.

It was enforced when we were there in Oct and no problem at all. Just don't pull a fastpass that conflicts with an ADR or show time.

 

[siskaren]

I'm a bit confused about fastpass times. Is the time on the ticket the time to actually get on the ride or the time to get in the actual fastpass line?

There's a one-hour window on the ticket. As long as you get in line at any point during that window, you're fine. (There'll be a CM there to check that you're within your window when you first get in line.)

 

[magicbob]

And at Disneyland Paris the FP window is only 30 minutes and there is no grace period. And that has been their rule from when it first opened.

I'm currently living overseas and just got back from our most recent trip to Disneyland Paris. The 30 minute window there was not impossible to adapt to, but definitely difficult. We ended up crossing the park several times in a row to use our FPs... pulled FP for Thunder Mountain, rode other rides ending up at Space Mountain to pull FPs, hoof it back to Thunder Mountain to use the FPs, then over to pull a FP for Indiana Jones. Then rush back to Space Mountain to use FP and then back to the other side of the park AGAIN to use Indy FPs.

I'm a bit confused about fastpass times. Is the time on the ticket the time to actually get on the ride or the time to get in the actual fastpass line?

You need to show up at the FP entrance within the time window printed on the FP. You will ride sometime after that, usually pretty quickly, but the actual wait time can still vary.