Using fast passes after expiration time

[minniecarousel]

We go to Disneyland a lot more than WDW & have always used FPs after their "good for" time. It seems that at WDW, we use them in the timeframe more often, but wouldn't hesitate to use them after their printed time.

I would be very surprised if they started enforcing using the FPs within the printed timeframe.

 

[KiminChicago]

From Disney's point of view, one of their reasons for issuing fastpasses is to minimize the amount of time people spend waiting in line so that those same people can be spending money in the shops and restaurants. So they don't really care if fastpasses are used after their expiration time and probably won't ever start enforcing the expiration time.

 

[kirbsam]

No time gets "stolen." The people who went during the printed time had a shorter wait due to the absence of the fast pass user who went late. The people who are in line during that time would have had to wait for the person to go anyway (unless the line completely emptied--which they rarely do, the fast pass person took no one's time--they virtually let a whole lot of people cut in front of them.)

this is true. and why disney will never crack down on it. it doesnt matter.

 

[CleoPahd]

What I don't understand is if they aren't going to enforce it, why even have a return between x:xx & x:xx on the ticket? Why not just have the ticket say the fastpass is good for any time after x:xx?

I know I'm going to get heat for this... We are not rope drop people. We like to get to the park a little later and stay a little later, which ususally results in us getting late fp return times. So many times we've entered fast pass lines late in the day with sooo many people there's a huge backup. I've read on here about people getting them through-out the day and saving them all up to use late in the day which explains why the lines are so long. I have to honestly say we've always tried to use our fp's during the time they are for, or pretty close to. Doesn't it seem as though if everyone just saves them all up for the end of the day it kind of defeats the purpose of what they were put in place for? I complety get that Disney allows it, but I guess I just don't understand why they even bother putting the return time frame.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

The idea is that "we" know that most people are going to the use their fastpass during the time slot indicated on their fastpass ticket. Its policy at the Disneyland Resort to accept fastpasses after the return time but not before(but it must be on the same day!). I am not 100% sure about Walt Disney World's policies but I heard its more of an unofficial policy there and can vary from one CM to another. However I hear most guests never have a problem using a fastpass late at Disney World.

 

[DawnM]

CMs have told me it is valid anytime after the initial time stamp.

Dawn

 

[daddey]

I had several CM's verify this for me, and it can be used any time after the window, as long as it's the same day.

That is true, done it many times and they don't even question you when you return to use it.

 

[JLTraveling]

Perhaps things have changed in the past couple of years (no longer a CM), but the way I was trained went like this:

1) FP are good during the designated return window
2) Allow a 5-10 minute grace period after expiration in case someone was delayed at a meal/other ride/etc
3) If the ride was down earlier in the day, accept FP that expired while it was down and anytime after
4) IF standby is less than 20 min and FP is less than 10, THEN CMs have the option, at their discretion, to accept other FPs that expired that day.

It seems to me that a number of CMs are abusing #4, and encouraging guests to encourage CMs to abuse #4. I imagine that Disney will eventually take away that CM discretion, since it's not being handled according to official training. But in the meantime, go ahead and exploit it, I guess. Doesn't bother me since I don't use FP anyway.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

what's the difference between using fast passes after they have expired outside of the time frame an reusing a mug

Fast passes are free. Mugs and soda aren't.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I voted other because there are certain CM's at certain rides that won't let you do this. Soarin' in WDW is a good example, although I heard they have become more lenient, too.

 

[MichelleVW]

I voted other because there are certain CM's at certain rides that won't let you do this. Soarin' in WDW is a good example, although I heard they have become more lenient, too.

I've used late Soarin FP's for years now, and I mean way late!

 

[GingerJay]

The first time I went to WDW I wasn't aware you could use the FP after the window at all- but this year when we went we used them late almost all the time. When the crowds were lower in the morning, we would ride first and then fast pass the rides for later. It worked out well for us and we were never turned away

 

[dodukes]

Like PP I think I hardly ever use them "on time" I have a whole touring plan in MK that I do all the time and it always mean susing fastpasses late. I have never been turned away.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Like PP I think I hardly ever use them "on time" I have a whole touring plan in MK that I do all the time and it always mean susing fastpasses late. I have never been turned away.

We never tried this, but planned on doing it this past trip with a Fast Pass we had for BTMRR. But by the time we got there, there was no line anyway, so the FPs went unused.

 

[dodukes]

We never tried this, but planned on doing it this past trip with a Fast Pass we had for BTMRR. But by the time we got there, there was no line anyway, so the FPs went unused.

Yep thats happened to me before. And usually on that ride.

 

[daddey]

I voted other because there are certain CM's at certain rides that won't let you do this. Soarin' in WDW is a good example, although I heard they have become more lenient, too.

We have been going 1 -2 times a year since 2004, and I have never had a CM not let me use a FP after the window on the same day on any ride that is FP.

 

[MELSMICE]

We have used many FP's past the time indicated on the pass & have never had an issue.

 

[Danauk]

I never dare try this untill last summer in AK. We were in line for Expedition Everest and we got chatting to a CM because she asked about the meaning of the t-shirt I was wearing (I had made the shirt for that day with an iron on transfer and a slogan about finally going in search of the yeti as I love rollercoasters and on my previous visit to WDW I had missed the EE DVC pre opening day by 1 day and had waited 3 1/2 years to go on the ride!) Anyway, the CM liked my story and handed me 2 fastpasses that she had collected from guests earlier on in the day so I could ride again as soon as we got off. She said then that the end time didn't matter, the passes she gave me were for 8 hours earlier.

 

[tasha99]

What I don't understand is if they aren't going to enforce it, why even have a return between x:xx & x:xx on the ticket? Why not just have the ticket say the fastpass is good for any time after x:xx?

I know I'm going to get heat for this... We are not rope drop people. We like to get to the park a little later and stay a little later, which ususally results in us getting late fp return times. So many times we've entered fast pass lines late in the day with sooo many people there's a huge backup. I've read on here about people getting them through-out the day and saving them all up to use late in the day which explains why the lines are so long. I have to honestly say we've always tried to use our fp's during the time they are for, or pretty close to. Doesn't it seem as though if everyone just saves them all up for the end of the day it kind of defeats the purpose of what they were put in place for? I complety get that Disney allows it, but I guess I just don't understand why they even bother putting the return time frame.

I won't give you heat for it, but I think you're wrong in your assessment of why there's a backup. That line would be the same if people had used their fastpasses on time because they would have gone on the ride instead of the people they let cut in front of them by going later. The rides get backed up because it's the end of the day and every little delay has added up (just like a doctor's office or airport security--anything where there's an all day long line of people).

 

[tvguy]

I've never had a FP long enough to expire. We plan our day around being at the ride we have a FP for at the beginning of the window.

Last couple of times were were at DL they had issued all the FP's for the day on the most popular rides by 10:30 am, so FP isn't even an option, I kind of wondered why they even bother issuing them at all anymore.