VIP Fastpass question

[Peter Pirate 2]

I was at MK a couple weeks ago and have never seen so many people with some type of special fastpass that gets the entire family to the front of the line. Some were on lanyards, some were hand held. Non of the folks using them looked like celebrities, none were being guided by a CM, they really looked like regular everyday families. What gives? Are these things for sale on the sly?

 

[chartle]

Most likely they did a DVC tour.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Or maybe they are GAD Fastpass Exchange Cards.

 

[TisBit]

I am betting they were guest with disabilities passes which work a lot like fastpasses on some rides and depending on the pass itself (disability at issue). Seemed when we were there I noticed them a lot more as well, could just be coincidence or maybe they are being better publicized for people to take use (I believe they require some type of medical documentation to get them, but not sure).

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

There definitely were more disabled passes being used, I noticed that but unless a large number of people were disabled with no obvious affliction, i.e. wheelchair, crutches, etc. then there was more to it. Does everyone who takes a DVC tour get an all day FP for the family? What is the GAD Exchange Card?

Anyway, I'm guessing that in our 3-4 hours at the MK we so no less than 20 families using these and that's way more than I've ever seen before!

 

[North7]

Friends of ours stayed at the Poly in August and attended a DVC session... they were given some type of fastpass card that allowed them to get fastpasses to multiple attractions at the same time. I had never heard of this so possibly what you saw was something similar.

 

[pugdog]

I am betting they were guest with disabilities passes which work a lot like fastpasses on some rides and depending on the pass itself (disability at issue). Seemed when we were there I noticed them a lot more as well, could just be coincidence or maybe they are being better publicized for people to take use (I believe they require some type of medical documentation to get them, but not sure).

I can tell you right now they are in no way connected to the Guest assistance card. The GAC does not give you front of line access. Yes on some rides it does act like a FP but never gets you front of line. Most of the time it allows you to wait in a different area until your time to board comes. Some GAC's allow some one to wait in the shade until their party gets to the head of the line. I think that is why you see more people renting wheelchairs and ECV's, they think you get head of line, but you don't.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Or maybe they are GAD Fastpass Exchange Cards.

Most likely they did a DVC tour.

Yep. Those are the two common ways of getting instant FASSPASS tickets.

Even after all timed FASTPASS tickets have been distributed for a popular FASTPASS attraction like Toy Story Midway Mania, one machine remains available for use with GAD and DVC FASTPASS cards.

The good news is that VIP FASTPASS access is rare in comparison to regular FASTPASS access. It doesn't matter if a guest is staying at a deluxe Disney resort or at an old Motel 6. FASTPASS works the same way for most guests.

Guest Assistance cards do not provide instant FASTPASS tickets.

 

[mapmakerj]

FYI, the DVC tour fastpass cards are good for 3 instant fastpasses, not all day. We had these last year and they were great. Really nice for TSM and EE.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

OK, I've heard the possible explanations and while good, I just don't see them as being the answer here. I used to hardly ever see people with a 'family pass' get through the lines and when we did there was almost always a CM or two with them and they were almost always dressed quite unlike the other WDW guests, many had nanny's, etc., dead VIP giveaways.

Lately though the numbers we've seen have just been unbelievable and as I said the people don't look like celeb's or dress like they're upper crust , they tour independently - They look like average families and I think something is going on. Somebody must know more ... Please ... I'm fixated on this and I DON'T KNOW WHY!!!!

 

[Ro Z]

My first thought was they were part of Make A Wish but you said there was alot of people doing this so I have no idea!

 

[Rochester Disney Fan]

I unfortunately can shed some light on the GAC as I have an Autistic Son. It is a pink and white card. You can get the card at guest services with the proper documentation. I wear mine on a lanyard so its easier to juggle everything else I'm handling. The card itself is good for 5 guest. ( I have 4 in my party).There are times when I’ll take just my non Autistic son on a ride while my wife and autistic child are waiting for us and not visible to the crowd. I am grateful for this program because my daily window of time at the park is limited and cannot typically take advantage of early or extended hours. I understand some people think this is "unfair" but I would be grateful to trade places.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

It may have been a pass that guest services gives out to compensate a person for trouble they may have had. Say a bus breaks down on the way to the park and it takes an extra 30 or 45 minutes to get to the location, guest services has a slip of paper they fill out to provide access to a ride. This would also be true if you were waiting in line for a ride that breaks down. The slip of paper that they have can provide several items, the one that I remember is a replacement ice cream. I got one for something but can not remember the situation now, but I do remember the ice cream being an option that guest services could check off.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Rochester disney, in no way was i complaining about these passes, I hope you didn't think that. I'm simply thinking these things are somehow for sale in limited, double secret circumstances that I have yet to hear about.

 

[doconeill]

There isn't really anything called a VIP Fastpass. And if they ever did create one, the news would spread like wildfire all over the web.

Were these something shown to the CMs and they were allowed to pass? Did the CM take anything from them? Did you see what they looked like?

I've never seen this at Disney, but I've had something similar that was a press pass at Universal, and was on a lanyard. However, we didn't need it to get on the attractions since the park was actually closed - we just needed it to prove we were still allowed to be there I tell you, there is nothing like having the Wizarding World all to yourself (well, 50-60 people), at night, with a DJ, open bar, desserts and all the butterbeer you can drink.

It sounds like a Premium VIP tour, but any sort of tour would be led by a CM, and I'm not aware of any sort of lanyard for that.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

There isn't really anything called a VIP Fastpass. And if they ever did create one, the news would spread like wildfire all over the web.

Were these something shown to the CMs and they were allowed to pass? Did the CM take anything from them? Did you see what they looked like?

I've never seen this at Disney, but I've had something similar that was a press pass at Universal, and was on a lanyard. However, we didn't need it to get on the attractions since the park was actually closed - we just needed it to prove we were still allowed to be there I tell you, there is nothing like having the Wizarding World all to yourself (well, 50-60 people), at night, with a DJ, open bar, desserts and all the butterbeer you can drink.

It sounds like a Premium VIP tour, but any sort of tour would be led by a CM, and I'm not aware of any sort of lanyard for that.

I didn't see them closely but they looked like room keys (plastic). Some had laynards, some just flashed them in their hand but it was only one per party. I'm telling you I'm not crazy.

I know if these were for sale word would spread like wildfire but I cannot believe how many I saw...

 

[doconeill]

I didn't see them closely but they looked like room keys (plastic). Some had laynards, some just flashed them in their hand but it was only one per party. I'm telling you I'm not crazy.

I know if these were for sale word would spread like wildfire but I cannot believe how many I saw...

There are cards that families of kids staying at Give Kids The World that could work this way, although I'm not 100% familiar with them - I think they are green in color. I think they are also used in conjunction with the GAC cards.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

There are times when I’ll take just my non Autistic son on a ride while my wife and autistic child are waiting for us and not visible to the crowd.

{Up Onto Soapbox, Flame Proof Suit On}
1) Now, this I think is pure selfishness and greed.
2) If used for a special needs person, fine.
3) They were meant for this, and I can understand.
. . . some people cannot wait in line
. . . some people have problems dealing with crowds
. . . some people need special assistance
4) When used to get around the line with "normal" people, it is cheating.
5) Pure and simple.
{Down From Soapbox, Flame Proof Suit Still On}

 

[wgqual]

If you were there 11/11-16th it might have been the Kidd's Kids group. Local/national DJ every year takes sick kids to wdw for 4 or 5 days. I'm not sure if they get fastpasses or not.

http://www.kiddskids.com/

 

[mch04049]

There definitely were more disabled passes being used, I noticed that but unless a large number of people were disabled with no obvious affliction, i.e. wheelchair, crutches, etc. then there was more to it. Does everyone who takes a DVC tour get an all day FP for the family? What is the GAD Exchange Card?

Anyway, I'm guessing that in our 3-4 hours at the MK we so no less than 20 families using these and that's way more than I've ever seen before!

They most likely took the TOTW at the Bay Lake Resort which I took a couple of weeks ago. We got 4 fast passes good for three times each for taking the tour and listening to the presentation. It takes about an hour and a half to do.