OK, What is the truth about return times 1-29-2025?

[tigger2002]

For LL, Ill, and VQ what are the current official vs actual return times? The official Disney page says "5 minutes before your return window starts or 15 minutes after it ends" for LL. I have recently read that people are getting onto a ride hours after their LL expired. I guess with the VQ you can go any time after your boarding group is called.
What has been your recent experience?
I don't want to get there late thinking I can get in and be turned away.

 

[Dug720]

The next 2/29 will be 2028?

 

[reddog21]

Why can't you just follow the rules posted on the Disney website?

 

[tigger2002]

The next 2/29 will be 2028?

My mistake, I meant today 1-29-2029

 

[tigger2002]

Why can't you just follow the rules posted on the Disney website?

I would like to know that if I am running a little late, say 30 minutes late, I can still get in and not just give up. Plus, it appears that Disney isn't following their own website.

 

[kylenne]

I would like to know that if I am running a little late, say 30 minutes late, I can still get in and not just give up. Plus, it appears that Disney isn't following their own website.

For VQs, you get 1 hour to return once your boarding group is called. Unofficially, Cosmic Rewind—and only Cosmic Rewind—does not enforce that at all and you can tap in at any time once your BG is called. This has been unofficial policy at the attraction for quite some time now. But no other VQ has ever been treated this way, including the other current one at Tiana’s. Tron very notoriously was strict enforcing return times for its VQ back when it still had one, for example, and didn’t even let you on if you were 1 min late. So Cosmic Rewind VQ is an entirely unique setup and should not be treated as a baseline standard for anything else, not for LLs or even other VQs.

For LLs the official grace period seems to be 15 minutes or so. If you attempt to tap in past that, it’s entirely up to the discretion of the CMs whether or not they let you through. They don’t have to do it, but sometimes they will as a courtesy if you’re polite and it won’t impact ride ops. As with a lot of things at the parks it’s best to manage your expectations and not to push it and put them in that position in the first place. I honestly don’t know what it’s like for ILLs because the rare times I knew I was going to be late for one, I beelined for a blue tent and they moved it for me. But I can’t say if that was pixie dust or official policy and I don’t want to imply that should be expected.

 

[scrappinginontario]

The rule is 5 mins before and 15 mins after, anything outside of that you may be turned away.

Some CMs will allow entrance outside the window and others will deny it. There is no way to know each scenario as it is at the discretion of the CM. If you're late, try but be fully prepared to be denied entrance and move on. It's the risk that comes with missing a return time.