New Fastpass Scam

[COACHSTING]

We just returned from eight days at the Beach Club Villas. We had an excellent time. In addition to excellent accomodations, the Disney Dining Plan worked really well for us and the weather was great, except for two record high temps.

The crowds for this time in October were huge. We have been coming each year at this time for the last eight years or so and by far, this was the most crowded of any trip. Maybe it was the Food and Wine Festival, the weather or the golf tournament, but on some midweek days, the lines for popular rides were over an hour long during mid-day.

One disturbing thing we saw appears to be a new Fastpass scam. Twice, while working our way to the front of very long lines, we reached the Fastpass que where it joins the stand-by line. On both occasions two groups reached the junction and suddenly discovered that they could not find their Fastpasses. On both occasions the cast member at the ride chided the groups and then let them right on the rides.

There were several people who witnessed this and were obviously watching the cast member response. Many people now know that there is a chance if you are in a group and the lines are long, all you need to do is tell the cast member that you lost your passes and he/she will let you right on the ride.

In one of the cases, it was evident that this was a scam, but nothing was done. I mention it, knowing the risk is there now that more people will attempt this.

Cast members simply have to say that they are sorry that without the Fastpasses, they have to go to the rear of the stand-by line. What it means is that they simply have to wait as long as everyone else becasue they just walked to the front of the line to begin with.

Yes, there will be times when passes are lost. That is unfortunate. But unless everyone is sent back to the stand-by line, the scammers will learn to take advantage of the situation and the honest people will wait even longer.

 

[DebbieB]

I saw something similar on Southwest Airlines on Sunday. A 40 something couple came up to the podium right behind the pre-boarders with children. The gate agent said you should be in the regular line, but then let them go.

 

[Granny]

Disney CMs will rarely be confrontational. I've seen many instances of people bending or breaking the rules (either stated ones or the polite rules of society) in the presence of CMs and never seen them confronted.

I don't blame the CMs...I don't think any of us want WDW to be run like an Army base.

But it's always disappointing to see people who feel that their needs are more important than rules and other people. No different at WDW than anywhere else.

 

[dvc_john]

So they lost the fast passes between the time they entered the fast pass line (where you have to show your fast pass to a cm) and the time they got to the merge point (where the cm collects the fast pass). Pretty convenient!

 

[Olaf]

There's nothing new about it. Seen it happen. I've seen CM's send them back. They normally have CM at the beginning of the FP lines.

What I hate is when parents push their kids forward and then proceed to push through the line, saying "That's my child up there". There's also the people who pretend not to understand English, while cutting. DH has actually put his arm and blocked kids from pushing forward. Once, he was actually cheered on by other people around us. Kid was pushing forward, saying his family was upfront--too bad.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That was my thought too, John! My guess is that they were in the standby line, and conveniently jumped into the FP line after the checkpoint.

 

[Lexxiefern]

Wow, what will people think of next? Glad you enjoyed your trip though!

 

[fivefordisney]

There's nothing new about it. Seen it happen. I've seen CM's send them back. They normally have CM at the beginning of the FP lines.

What I hate is when parents push their kids forward and then proceed to push through the line, saying "That's my child up there". There's also the people who pretend not to understand English, while cutting. DH has actually put his arm and blocked kids from pushing forward. Once, he was actually cheered on by other people around us. Kid was pushing forward, saying his family was upfront--too bad.

This happened to us on one of the attractions...I can't remember which one, but a somewhat large group of "Spanish" speaking kids/parents waited until we were close to a turn in the queu and climbed under the fence-thing and pushed and ran in front of us. One teenage boy knocked my then 6 year old DD down. We tried to stop them (oh, BTW, most of the family was speaking English) and they completely ignored us. They then hopped over to the fastpass lane. When the CM asked for their fastpasses, they began speaking in Spanish, looked at the "mother" and she pretended to look in her bag. They just stared at the CM who let them into the attraction.

I was so angry...mostly about them "butting" in line and knocking my DD to the ground. My DD9 just said, "Rude."

My DH and I decided that they would not ruin our mood, especially in front of the kids, but boy did we discuss it later!

I don't know what the answer is--I don't think we can expect the CMs to lose the Disney magic and their cool. What I do know is that I can still picture that family in my mind--which is saying something since my mind is like a sieve these days!! Maybe we all have to hold tight to the rails and block anyone who comes our way . Yeah, that would be fun...

 

[pms122765]

I was with my 4 year old - carrying him in my arms & went through the line at Everst.

When we got to the front of the Fast Pass line - I gave 1 FP to the CM.

After getting off the ride, I noticed I still had 1 FP.

We went on the ride again & this time the CM asked for 2 passes & we only had 1 - but we were let on.

I made an honest mistake & then took advantage of it.

 

[nevertez]

Yes... I beleive it is sad that visitors take advantage of WDW good nature. CM are not going to jepordize there jobs and call a guest a Liar. I doubt Disney expects them to either. Imagine going into walmart to return an item and getting harassed by the greeter because you didn't have a receipt.

Working in the hospitality industry I see this every day. People complain about batteries in remote control to the point they get a free fruit basket or upgrade on their hotel room.

There are giver's and takers in the world. WDW gives to the givers and takes the money from the giving people it is an even balance.

My suggestion is next time you see someone take advantage whether it is in wdw or back at home, thank them for taking advantage of a persons genuinine kindness.

 

[Olaf]

With the foreigners, I believe that culture comes into play. In many countries, pushing, shoving, and cutting in line is a sport and you're considered a chump if you don't participate. Americans, on the whole (yes, the rude ones are out there), are more like the Brits, we like an organized and orderly queue--although nobody does it quite as good as the Brits.

 

[FreeTime]

I haven't observed this happening at WDW however, at DL last weekend we were in line and a group of women were arguing with the cast member that the cm at the begining of the line told them that they could get in the FP line without FP's. The CM explained that they needed to go to the end of the line. The women yelled that they were going to complain and walked out. The part that shocked me though was when they were out of earshot the CM commented to the other guests that she knew they were lying.

 

[pms122765]

I have seen when machines are not working - CMs give people the FPs, but I have noticed that 2 people will ask for 4 or 6 FPs & get them.

I myself always use my wife's ticket to get an extra FP. She does not go on roller coasters etc...

I do not see this being a scam, but a good way to get an extra FP to use.

 

[Mama2Matthew]

Line-cutting and FP scams drive me crazy! We had two instances on our recent trip. On the first, a family pushed past my son and me to get on It's a Small World. There was absolutely no line and we ended up sharing a row with them. Just plain rude.

The second was at Dumbo. There were two women at the beginning of the line. They yelled across the queue to a couple in their forties that "no one cares, just cut through the line." How ridiculous that the line was filled with toddlers waiting "patiently" and a group of adults couldn't even follow the rules. I'm sure that ride on Dumbo was the highlight of their trip.

 

[KathyR]

A few weeks ago when we were waiting outside Soarin' for our fast pass time to come up there was a family of 4 trying to access the fastpass line with 1 fast pass. They were told they needed one for each family member, and after a few "words" with the entrance CM they stepped back and then came up with 4 fast passes??? We were let in right behind them as our time had come up during the preceding events. As we followed them through the line at a slight distance and got to the checkpoint where you hand them over, the CM noticed their fast passes were not for that day-not even for this year. There was also another CM (looked more management than you standard Soarin' CM) standing along side the FP ticket taker at that time. So along with the management looking CM to back her up, they refused them entry to the attraction.

 

[goaliewife]

Absolutely dispise the FP scams and the line-cutting.

After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity for Indiana Jones at DL, they stopped giving out fast passes because it was so busy and I guess they had reached their limit, we finally made our way into the cave lines. As we were weaving our way through the cave, a male coming off the ride, jumped over the wooden barrier between incoming and outgoing riders and made his way right up through the line. He rode in the same car as DH and I did. We should have said something, but didn't. Lo and behold, as we were exiting, we saw him jump the wooden barrier again to ride again.

This drives me nuts.

However, we did notice that someone this time in the incoming line mentioned it to the CM and she confronted him about it. We kept walking out so I do not know if he was made to leave.

It is all about respect in my opinion, and some people have none. It's all about them.

 

[Pootle]

Americans, on the whole (yes, the rude ones are out there), are more like the Brits, we like an organized and orderly queue--although nobody does it quite as good as the Brits.

.... but so true ..... we are taught to queue (or 'stand in line' as you would put it) from an early age. Sadly though, like you, I should add 'on the whole' for we have our exceptions

 

[CarolA]

I have seen them send those folks back to the end of the line. I think that perhaps I would consider stopping by Guest Relations and making what I saw known. (And we nearly had to leave my friend on EE because she somehow did "lose" her FP between checkpoint one and two. We finally dug it out of her wallet LOL! There were 8 of us and she was the only one without a FP and they were NOT going to let her go.. I was getting ready to back out and give her mine as I had ridden it several times and it was everyone elses' first ride. )

 

[Sammie]

In one of the cases, it was evident that this was a scam, but nothing was done. I mention it, knowing the risk is there now that more people will attempt this.

I have to ask then, what was the purpose of sharing this. The best thing would have been to simply let Disney know your concerns.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

When we went earlier in the month, we actually saw them CMs turning people away each and every time at all the FP rides that we did. i wish they would all be consistant.