"Paying it Forward.. with Fastpass"

[CleveRocks]

A tidbit from my way-too-long May 2005 trip report (long story as to why we had 3 extra FastPasses, but...):

On our way out (of Splash Mountain) it was just about 3:45 p.m., the opening of our original FastPass window. As my wife, my son and I exited past the very end of the now 70 minute stand-by line, I tried looking out for a family of three, and when I saw one I asked if there was a party of three. The two women in their 20's and a young boy that I saw spoke up that they were a party of three, and I asked them if they wanted Splash FastPasses that were good immediately. They didn’t know how to react at first because they said they didn’t know what a FastPass was or why it would be helpful to them. By rights, I should have just said “Nevermind” and given them to someone who knew what they were getting, but after a quick explanation and some squeals of happiness they jumped out of line and thanked me profusely. As we walked in the same direction they told us what nice people we were, and I joked that they wouldn’t think so if they knew us in real life. One of the women replied to me, “Oh yeh, well you wouldn’t think we were very nice, either, if you knew what we were doing 10 minutes ago.” If my 5 year old son weren’t with me I would have asked, but I didn’t dare do it with him in tow; I had visions of Penthouse Forum letters dancing in my head for the next few minutes (conveniently ignoring that they were with a boy about Ben’s age). Another Disney good deed accomplished.

 

[Harambe]

What a riot! We do this two, since I don't do rides, I'm able to go around gathering Fast passes for my family.

I got Fastpasses for Tower of Terror last trip, as the family said they at last wanted to attempt it, but they all chickened out. I was standing at the ToT exit, and offered them to two 'tweens coming off the ride. They jumped for joy! But what I didn't see was the pale green mother stumbling out behind the kids. They grabbed her arm, and dragged her back in the line.

If she had a weapon, I wouldn't be Dissing today . . .

 

[challada]

We always give away our extra at DL. Since we usually have 6 people and do some babyswapping w/my youngest, we always have a couple of extras for every ride. My favorite was when we had extras for Indiana Jones (the ride, not the lame show) and my 8 year old son walked up to two burly 20something guys saying in his little voice "do you guys want some fast passes for right now?"...I've never seen such joy in the faces of those receiving as I did in these two guys...they were thanking this little pip-squeek kids over and over (I just laughed the whole time). I always let me kids find the people they want to pass the fast passes along to and they usually pick families w/kids their age, so it was surprising to see my son pick the biggest boys in the park to give them to and watch them turn into the youngest boys in the group!

 

[DizznyChick]

we do this too
1 guy was skeptical about it and asked-well why are you giving these away
my son told him because we are too scared to ride test track

 

[diskids2]

That is such a wonderful idea and how nice of you to share it with us. I'm going to do that as well.

 

[DianaR]

Can you have more than one at a time, meaning one for the Buzz ride AND one for Space Mountain, or must you use the first one before your ticket will be accepted for a second?

Thx!

 

[SusanWasHere]

i always do the same thing. it really makes you feel good and carries on the thought that disney is the nicest place to be. i had 3 extra FP for Soarin' on NYE. the stand by line was about 2 hours. as i was walking, i saw 3 adults. the couple was about 65 and the woman was one of their moms. had to be in her 80s. they were debating whether the older woman could stand on her feet that long. she wanted to go for them, but didn't want to keep them from it. so i gave them the 3 passes which were for immediate ride. the little old lady's face lit up and the couple were so excited!!! they were like kids! it was the best feeling, i said "happy new year" and left. there were like 3 young teens that saw what i did and proceeded to use some 4-letter words. i knew i made the right choice! i'll always pay it forward - with FP!

 

[Pedler]

I am all for giving away fast passes that you got and are not going to use. We have done that though it took a bit of convincing for people to think they were legit. I am not so sure about getting them just to give them away, in particular for the rides that they are hard to get them for. I know that everyone means well and I think giving them away instead of wasting them is a great idea

But if you get one for the sole intention of giving them away for an attraction that would run out of them then you are really just taking them away from someone that would normally get them one at the ride and giving it to someone else. There would be direct correlation between the happiness you get to see on the face of the person(s) you give them to to the dissapointment you don't see on the face of the person(s) that can't get one because you got one to give away.

I think it is a great idea to bring that extra happiness to others for fast passes that you would otherwise not use but getting one just for that purpose has the cost of dissapointing someone else who will try to get one at the attraction and won't be able to get it because they are all gone.

 

[lecach]

I am all for giving away fast passes that you got and are not going to use. We have done that though it took a bit of convincing for people to think they were legit. I am not so sure about getting them just to give them away, in particular for the rides that they are hard to get them for. I know that everyone means well and I think giving them away instead of wasting them is a great idea

But if you get one for the sole intention of giving them away for an attraction that would run out of them then you are really just taking them away from someone that would normally get them one at the ride and giving it to someone else. There would be direct correlation between the happiness you get to see on the face of the person(s) you give them to to the dissapointment you don't see on the face of the person(s) that can't get one because you got one to give away.

I think it is a great idea to bring that extra happiness to others for fast passes that you would otherwise not use but getting one just for that purpose has the cost of dissapointing someone else who will try to get one at the attraction and won't be able to get it because they are all gone.

I very much agree with this - if you got them and then changed your mind or are unable to use them, then its fine to give them away. But to get them KNOWING you're going to give them away just doesnt seem fair.

 

[DVCLiz]

I am all for giving away fast passes that you got and are not going to use. We have done that though it took a bit of convincing for people to think they were legit. I am not so sure about getting them just to give them away, in particular for the rides that they are hard to get them for. I know that everyone means well and I think giving them away instead of wasting them is a great idea

But if you get one for the sole intention of giving them away for an attraction that would run out of them then you are really just taking them away from someone that would normally get them one at the ride and giving it to someone else. There would be direct correlation between the happiness you get to see on the face of the person(s) you give them to to the dissapointment you don't see on the face of the person(s) that can't get one because you got one to give away.

I think it is a great idea to bring that extra happiness to others for fast passes that you would otherwise not use but getting one just for that purpose has the cost of dissapointing someone else who will try to get one at the attraction and won't be able to get it because they are all gone.

Well, I'd be delighted to give away any FastPasses I'd gotten but couldn't use, but I can't imagine doing it just for the fun of giving them away!!!! If I did, though, I just don't see me feeling much pain over someone else's diappointment. If I got there and got a FastPass, they had the same chance, so why should my using them or giving them away have any impact, really? I just don't think the feelings of unknown strangers would be enough to stop me from taking them.

If you REALLY want to see some irritated people, try asking the DVC board how they feel about people renting reservations for holidays and then selling them on Ebay!!!!

 

[#1DizGal]

I struck up a conversation with newlyweds near the TOT last year. They gave me 4 FPs for that attraction. I said, 'are you really sure you're not going to use them'? And they gave me 'that look', as if to say, ummmm - we're on our honeymoon, and we have better things to do!

 

[AKQJ10]

Great idea, MB! It's a nice way to give a family (especially those with small kids, etc.), a little extra magic of your own.

 

[themudd4]

last summer we did sort of the same thing. We picked up our fast pass for soarin' without looking at the time first...DUH, it was during our ADR's. So we handed them off to a young couple who were only in the park the one day and they had just closed the fast pass ticket mich. for the night. It made their day, and since we had already been on it, we weren't missing anything.

 

[Windy City Heather]

Our last trip we got FP for rockin roller coaster. We ended up we eat too much dinner and did not feel like riding it. I went up to the front of the park and gave my FP to 2 college age guys who could not be happier. I think I made there day. I felt good about it too.