So how will enforcing FPs change anything?

[dskib]

Full disclosure here: I've been to DW a zillion times. I go in Off Peak times and generally have a great touring plan. I hate crowds and lines, and I'm good at avoiding them. I use Fastpasses regularly, sometimes during the window, often not.

Here's the thing. In my personal experience, and I have a LOT, there has been absolutely no difference in the FP return line / wait time whether I'm back in the window or whether I'm a few hours late. None. It seems to me that the majority of guests probably don't use them.

So I really don't see what all the fuss is about and why people are so adamant that the times should be enforced. Who cares?

Is there a different experience in peak times? Will this make an appreciable difference to FP lines in the summer? Maybe on particular rides? I'm just not getting it

 

[Reddog1134]

I don't think you would see a difference on most rides at most times of the year.

On popular attractions such as TSMM and Soarin', you may see a difference during peak times. If there is a significant number of FP holders waiting until the end of the day to use them, you could see an unusual increase in wait times during that period.

Most suspect that the enforcement has more to do with Xpass then problems with wait times. But since we know very little about Xpass, no one can say for sure.

 

[Nayan]

What folks would do is grab a fastpass for, say Toy Story Mania first thing in the morning then head back to ride much later in the day way past the time it said on the pass. You can no longer do that, so instead of grabbing a pass, doing other things and heading back whenever if you don't show up you forfeit your pass. To me it's not a big deal but for others it is.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

It won't really affect the wait times that much at all. I really don't get why they changed it, since I'm guessing the Fast Pass users who used passes late were a very low percent.

I think it's going to be a bigger effect to those who are used to not always using their passes within the window. Like me. I wouldn't purposefully get a pass knowing I wouldn't be around during the window, but if I get a pass with a return time a few hours away, and I happen to be at the opposite side of the park when my window passes, I always liked being able to use it late.

But the actual affect this will have on lines? The people who were in line before you, would still be in line before you. If anything, it will make your wait slightly longer;

Say I get a FP with a return time of 10:00 - 11:00. Say I used it at 12:00 when they were allowed late. Now I still get a FP for the same time, but I use it by 11:00. You get in line at 11:30. You are one spot behind were you would be if I could still use my FP at 12:00 since I wouldn't be in line yet, but with the new policy, I am in front of you.

Does that make sense? That'll be the only affect on lines.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I don't think this is going to affect the wait times. It sounds like the reason of enforcing the period of use is more to prepare guests for the new xPass system than to crack down on people who are messing up the FP system. With the xPass, FP return times will be more important because guests get to choose their own, rather than being assigned a random time that may or may not work for them (though, if a FP time doesn't work with you because of conflicting dinner reservations, etc., the simple solution is to wait until later to get an FP or not get one at all).

There really wasn't that big of a problem with people using the FPs late. One example that I like is that when you get a FP, you're technically reserving your spot in line. If you decide to come back later than your return time, it would be the equivalent of standing in the queue and letting hundreds of people pass you. You still have your spot, you've just been letting people go ahead of you. The only problem that creates is a bottlenecking of the FP line when a bunch of people decide to return their FPs at once. However, bottlenecking of the FP line would occur anyway because with a one hour return period, the majority of guests with a designated return time choose to return at the very beginning of their FP slot, which would result in a longer wait for them and a shorter wait for the guests who return at the end of the slot. Either way, the stand-by line wouldn't be affected - the same number of guests from the FP line would be allowed in front of them, whether there are 50 FP holders or 5 in the queue.

Really, the biggest inconvenience about returning the FP during the designated return time, rather than after, is the proximity to the attraction (at least in my case). If someone is on the opposite side of the park and it is time to return their FP, they would have to trek it to the other side, then possibly back afterwards. Returning FPs at any time after the designated return time allowed guests to come back at their leisure when it was convenient for them.

 

[mggeary]

This will require tighter, more regimented touring plans, which are made with knowledge of approximate FP return times (which will vary based on season and day) to make sure you are not on the other end of the park for your return window. A slight bummer particularly to those who leave and return later in the day, but not impossible to plan around. Just check out the FP return time estimates for your week on touring plans.com before you leave and tweak your touring plans accordingly.

 

[ars0525]

Perhaps FPs won't run out as early if people are forced to return during the time slot assigned. People won't take a FP they aren't willing to come back to use. Just a thought?

 

[dskib]

Yeah, I mean, I get how it works and all. I'm just asking what's the point of the enforcement if it's not really going to change the lines. Because I don't think it will. If there won't be a noticible difference in my FP line wait time, why bother making this change? Someone using her fastpass late really doesn't affect anyone else's wait time. I'm just looking at it from a customer service perspective. It doesn't hurt anyone. It doesn't really affect anyone's wait time. Why make the point of enforcing a return time and intentionally creating an unhappy guest?

I'm just looking for the REAL reason this is happening. You don't potentially anger your customers without an amazing reason. And since this isn't solving any obviously huge problem, I'm a bit confused.

 

[Guest-expert]

mostly will not change anything. BUT you will have the occational family that will cause a scene that they were 1 minute late and have 3 kids and the CM's are ruining their kids vacation. And of course they will get all loud and animated, because they are the type of person that acts this way for everything...

 

[Jennasis]

Personally I think the enforcement is to start preparing the general public for the roll out of XPass/next Gen etc. That's all.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I'm just looking for the REAL reason this is happening. You don't potentially anger your customers without an amazing reason. And since this isn't solving any obviously huge problem, I'm a bit confused.

Well, no one knows for sure, but right now most are speculating...

Real reason = xPass

 

[RMulieri]

Personally I think the enforcement is to start preparing the general public for the roll out of XPass/next Gen etc. That's all.

I agree

 

[BoltzNBrew]

I think it will stabilize standby wait times over the course of the day. Getting a steady X # of FP returns per hour rather than X-y this hour and X+z the next will only benefit everyone. You see standby is 40 min and you dont have to worry about 200 people with fastpasses they pulled 6 hours ago jumping in line at once doubling your standby time.

 

[dskib]

I think it will stabilize standby wait times over the course of the day. Getting a steady X # of FP returns per hour rather than X-y this hour and X+z the next will only benefit everyone. You see standby is 40 min and you dont have to worry about 200 people with fastpasses they pulled 6 hours ago jumping in line at once doubling your standby time.

But it's very unlikely that would happen.

 

[mesaboy2]

These:

Personally I think the enforcement is to start preparing the general public for the roll out of XPass/next Gen etc. That's all.

Well, no one knows for sure, but right now most are speculating...

Real reason = xPass

I agree

But not so much this:

I think it will stabilize standby wait times over the course of the day. Getting a steady X # of FP returns per hour rather than X-y this hour and X+z the next will only benefit everyone. You see standby is 40 min and you dont have to worry about 200 people with fastpasses they pulled 6 hours ago jumping in line at once doubling your standby time.

 

[GeorgeG]

If you're like me and tend to follow rules, it shouldn't affect you. One of the things I find disturbing on these boards is how many people there are who always need to "beat the system."

 

[bumbershoot]

If you're like me and tend to follow rules, it shouldn't affect you. One of the things I find disturbing on these boards is how many people there are who always need to "beat the system."

There was no system to beat. It was allowed. The CMs had training and a protocol to follow (which was allowing it). No one was NOT following the rules. You were following the words on the FP, but those weren't the actual rules.

It was a KINDNESS that WDW offered (that DLR still offers), and some people (very few, IMO, out there in the wide world) were happy to make use of that kindness.

Now they've taken the kindness away.

 

[disnut8]

I think it's all just Disney trying to rein people in. The old "give them an inch and they'll take a mile" thing. While I have taken advantage of the "wink-wink, nod-nod" thing, for about 98% of the time, I've used the FastPass within the window. Our last trip with multiple family members? We always used it within the window.

Simple thing - if you can't use the pass within the window, don't get it. You have a dining reservation around the window? Don't get the FastPass. You want to see some entertainment during the window? Don't get the FastPass.

It's not that big of a deal. Use your time wisely. And I just about guarantee you won't be disappointed with anything else Disney has to offer. I never made it onto Splash Mountain last trip but had an amazing time. One ride should not break your trip. If it does, maybe you need to re-think your life plan.

 

[eliza61]

Full disclosure here: I've been to DW a zillion times. I go in Off Peak times and generally have a great touring plan. I hate crowds and lines, and I'm good at avoiding them. I use Fastpasses regularly, sometimes during the window, often not.

Here's the thing. In my personal experience, and I have a LOT, there has been absolutely no difference in the FP return line / wait time whether I'm back in the window or whether I'm a few hours late. None. It seems to me that the majority of guests probably don't use them.

So I really don't see what all the fuss is about and why people are so adamant that the times should be enforced. Who cares?

Is there a different experience in peak times? Will this make an appreciable difference to FP lines in the summer? Maybe on particular rides? I'm just not getting it

LOL, obviously Disney cares. They care enough to make the change and it seems them are doing their best to make sure it's enforced.

As the answer to your questions of whether or not it will make a difference? we'll have to wait until summer to find out. It might or it might not. You may see a difference or you may not but Disney might, depending on what they are looking for.

At this point does it really matter? As I said Disney has decided to go this route.

 

[seashoreCM]

It will make it easier for Disney to set aside ride slots for Fastpass and/or Xpass.

Under the old system, ride slots later in the day were affected by two factors, (1) the number of fastpasses never used i.e. no-shows, and (2) the number of late fastpass guests.

Under the new system only #1 needs to be taken into account making calculations easier.

There really wasn't that big of a problem with people using the FPs late. One example that I like is that when you get a FP, you're technically reserving your spot in line. If you decide to come back later than your return time, it would be the equivalent of standing in the queue and letting hundreds of people pass you. You still have your spot, you've just been letting people go ahead of you. The only problem that creates is a bottlenecking of the FP line when a bunch of people decide to return their FPs at once. However, bottlenecking of the FP line would occur anyway because with a one hour return period, the majority of guests with a designated return time choose to return at the very beginning of their FP slot, which would result in a longer wait for them and a shorter wait for the guests who return at the end of the slot. Either way, the stand-by line wouldn't be affected - the same number of guests from the FP line would be allowed in front of them, whether there are 50 FP holders or 5 in the queue.

Late fastpass use affects guests in the standby line.

Bottlenecking in the fastpass line causes the standby line to come to a halt or nearly to a halt. By stopping late use of fastpasses, the chances of bottlenecking in the fastpass line are greatly reduced.

Using your fastpass at the end of your time window does not necessarily reduce your wait time. Other people's one hour time windows begin every 5 minutes during your 1 hour time window, so every 5 minutes the majority of guests in another time window will be showing up.