mini-rant

[disneydad1]

currently at WDW with 3 dd's and 2 dgps - know i will get all kinds of flack from those purists who believe in using fp's during the return window, but i have to say how much it has negatively impacted our touring strategy.

we had really become spoiled by being able to accumulate fp's throughout the day and using them as it was most convenient for us - usually saving several sets for later in the day/evening.

now there's a great deal of stress put on deciding what we can fit in before the next window is up and it has significantly detracted from our experience.

really feel like disney is setting the table for charging resort guests for the xpass that will allow guests, for a fee, to purchase fast passes at a set time for headline attractions 6 mos in advance. They have created the demand b/c of the inconvenience that they've caused those of us who can't "work the system" anymore by saving fp's for later use.

ok - take your shots.....

 

[tinkbyday]

Wish I could have sympathy for ya - but, since I am one of the "purists" (I guess that means people who follow the rules).

Maybe you should be grateful you got away with it for as long as you did

I will be interested to see if the FP lines are shorter now that people can't return whenever they want to.

 

[Spunky946]

How hard can it possibly be? You get a fastpass and then you use it. Unless it is for a lot later, you can't have that many at a time. You just stay in the area until you can use it.

I don't get how hard of a thing it is.

 

[mcky fan]

Purist here too. No sympathy at all. It was always supposed to be the way it is now with the fast passes. It is because too many people were abusing the system that they needed to crack down.

 

[amycakes]

I am worried about this for our upcoming trip.

In the past, it was nice knowing that if you had a dining experience that ran late or an issue with the kids, Disney would be forgiving and allow you to use your fastpass a little later than the window.

Thanks for the info....

 

[Ali]

My family has always collected fast passes and used them later in the day. We are lucky to be localish and we don't have to cram everything I to 1 or 2 days. I would like to be able to choose a time to ride things and would enjoy that kind of perk.

 

[Heidi Lou]

I am not being mean here but i have to say until disboards i didnt even know you could go back at a later time or whatever. What't the point of having a time on a FP if you dont enforce it. It is kind of Disney's fault for allowing it so long, but seriously to me it's one of those "a rule is a rule" type of thing. Abusing a system point in place to help people not have as long of wait times is ruining it for people who actually do follow the FP system. Who even thinks to use it at another time is just not setting a good example for other in my opinion. People getting mad because they are finally being told to do what is supposed to be done anyway??? just dont understand that!

 

[pigletto]

I'm not a "purist" and we did used to grab some fast passes to use later in the day. I was worried about the new rules being enforced.
We were there from the end of April through the first week of May.
I can honestly say it did not effect our trip in the least. However, with our touring plan we hit everything we wanted to do early. It was a little more crowded than any of the other 5 trips we've taken and it still didn't seem to make a difference.

I'm not saying it isn't effecting your trip OP. I imagine it's busier there now than when I went. But I am saying that it isn't as bad as I was expecting.

 

[bdoyledimou]

i have always used FPs in the published window -- never had an issue.
And i knew we could use it later, but had no need too...
my plan worked with it either way i suppose.

 

[disneymomma76]

So.....we use to be one of those families. We would gather them by day and use them as night. Tsk Tsk. We are here NOW and I thought I would HATE having to use the FP during the window however it worked out SO WELL for us! We were at MK today and what I noticed is that the windows were no more than 1 - 2 hours out and that the FP lines actually went FAST. I also noticed that the time to obtain another FP was definitely short. I may be dreaming here, but it seemed like it.

Today we got a FP for Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear and the Jungle Cruise. We were there from RD to about 7pm.

Like I said, thought we were going to hate it, but actually LOVE it. I know we were one of the bad families that took advantage, but I can definitely see why it was changed.

 

[jeannielynn24]

I am not being mean here but i have to say until disboards i didnt even know you could go back at a later time or whatever. What't the point of having a time on a FP if you dont enforce it. It is kind of Disney's fault for allowing it so long, but seriously to me it's one of those "a rule is a rule" type of thing. Abusing a system point in place to help people not have as long of wait times is ruining it for people who actually do follow the FP system. Who even thinks to use it at another time is just not setting a good example for other in my opinion. People getting mad because they are finally being told to do what is supposed to be done anyway??? just dont understand that!

Same here. On our trip we used them within the window and didn't have any trouble. While it might be a little harder for those used to using them out of the time frame, it's not something that I would let affect our vacation.

 

[eliza61]

currently at WDW with 3 dd's and 2 dgps - know i will get all kinds of flack from those purists who believe in using fp's during the return window, but i have to say how much it has negatively impacted our touring strategy.

we had really become spoiled by being able to accumulate fp's throughout the day and using them as it was most convenient for us - usually saving several sets for later in the day/evening.

now there's a great deal of stress put on deciding what we can fit in before the next window is up and it has significantly detracted from our experience.

really feel like disney is setting the table for charging resort guests for the xpass that will allow guests, for a fee, to purchase fast passes at a set time for headline attractions 6 mos in advance. They have created the demand b/c of the inconvenience that they've caused those of us who can't "work the system" anymore by saving fp's for later use.

ok - take your shots.....

Ok remember you asked for the shots but I'll still try and be nice.

You're really stressing out over this? How 'bout this, simply take a vote. a) got use the fp or B) go do some thing else.

A vacation IMO and my opinion only is supposed to be about more than trying to see what you can "fit in" durin x amount of hours.

Now I don't know if disney is going to set up xpass or how it's going to work or why, that's in the future, really makes no sense to worry about that.

simply enjoy the time you have now and use the fast passes according to how disney is dictating. leave the stress for when you return home

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I miss having flexibility with the FP return time as well.

 

[klineyqueen]

I will be interested to see if the FP lines are shorter now that people can't return whenever they want to.

Me too.....that is what I wonder about!

 

[klineyqueen]

! We were at MK today and what I noticed is that the windows were no more than 1 - 2 hours out and that the FP lines actually went FAST. I also noticed that the time to obtain another FP was definitely short. I may be dreaming here, but it seemed like it.

3:

Answered my question!!! Thanks!!!

 

[ARAITHEL]

We have utilized FP for those rides we really LOVE. Which meant that we got the FP for the RnRc, waited in the "real" line and then RAN back in with the FP at the first available time that we could go. So, I was not a FP hoarder. We used them immediately when the time allowed. I don't really see the big deal in just going during the time allotted. Besides, don't you just get two FP tickets a day? Not like you can have six or so on you and flash them at the other patrons like watches for sale...

 

[bcrook]

Just spent 12 days in WDW and only used a fastpass for Star Tours once and Toy Story Mania twice. Standby wait times were great. At TSMM the actual standby times were exactly half of what was posted. 90 mins = 45 mins. 60 mins = 30 mins.

We had a great time. I do take advantage of early mornings and late stays and follow basic touring strategies!

I didn't find it a problem to ride.

 

[mesaboy2]

We have utilized FP for those rides we really LOVE. Which meant that we got the FP for the RnRc, waited in the "real" line and then RAN back in with the FP at the first available time that we could go. So, I was not a FP hoarder. We used them immediately when the time allowed. I don't really see the big deal in just going during the time allotted. Besides, don't you just get two FP tickets a day? Not like you can have six or so on you and flash them at the other patrons like watches for sale...

Um, no. If one understands those rules everyone loves so much, one can still have as many as four (or possibly more) valid FPs at one time per ticket depending on circumstances. I've managed that before, even after March 7.

 

[ARAITHEL]

Um, no. If one understands those rules everyone loves so much, one can still have as many as four (or possibly more) valid FPs at one time per ticket depending on circumstances. I've managed that before, even after March 7.

Wow, thanks for the head's up. I guess that was an "urban legend" that I was thinking I knew about!

Here's what I found on the internet: ...you may get another Fastpass after the time that is shown in the lower right-hand corner of the Fastpass coupon (that is more clear on the newer coupons because it says, "You may not get another Fastpass until..." I'll replace that example coupon ASAP). Usually that time is two hours after you last picked up a Fastpass, but it can be as quick as forty-five minutes. In order to maximize your usage of Fastpass, then, you should get that second Fastpass as soon as your window opens up. That way, you can mark time on both Fastpasses for awhile (at least until you use the first one up), and maximize your usage of the system.

Is this the current policy?

 

[mesaboy2]

Wow, thanks for the head's up. I guess that was an "urban legend" that I was thinking I knew about!

Here's what I found on the internet: ...you may get another Fastpass after the time that is shown in the lower right-hand corner of the Fastpass coupon (that is more clear on the newer coupons because it says, "You may not get another Fastpass until..." I'll replace that example coupon ASAP). Usually that time is two hours after you last picked up a Fastpass, but it can be as quick as forty-five minutes. In order to maximize your usage of Fastpass, then, you should get that second Fastpass as soon as your window opens up. That way, you can mark time on both Fastpasses for awhile (at least until you use the first one up), and maximize your usage of the system.

Is this the current policy?

Correct. You can get another FP as soon as either the window opens on your current FP or two hours after you got that current FP, whichever is earlier.