Enforcing FastPass return times?

[3Princesses1Prince]

Well, this is the weekend that's leading into their big "One More Disney Day" or whatever they are calling it promotion where the park is open 24-hours straight on leap day. I wouldn't be surprised if it is indeed pretty busy all weekend into and through Tuesday this week.

The holiday was last Monday, but many schools have the entire week off.

[Tink Lover]

But are they really telling everyone and actively encouraging it? The ONLY place I've ever heard that you could use FPs outside the window is here.

I agree with your point, Tinkermommy. IMHO, knowing that you can use FPs after they expire is not widely known, especially by newbies and visitors who seldom come to the parks. CM's don't normally tell this information, unless there is a situation that comes up (like the attraction is down when you come back to use the FP).

To me, knowing that you can use FPs after they expire is kind of like knowing which FP machines are "off the grid" or whatever the lingo is for that. Infrequent visitors just don't know. They either don't use FPs (because they don't quite get what they are), or they believe that the info printed on the ticket is actually true (i.e. they expire at a certain time).

More frequent visitors have a better chance of either eventually stumbling into a situation where they figure out that you can use your FP after it expires, or come to message boards like MP where they learn about it that way.

I think that most infrequent visitors won't really be affected when Disney clamps down, because most of them never really knew about "the trick" in the first place. It's really the more frequent visitors who knew about and were taking advantage of the old policy that will be impacted.

[danyoung]

But are they really telling everyone and actively encouraging it?

I'm just repeating anecdotal evidence from others posting online. It's clear that CMs are told to ignore the end time on a FP. And plenty of folks have reported that CMs have told them that they could come back whenever they wanted to.

[danyoung]

Originally Posted by iceman559
Well, this is the weekend that's leading into their big "One More Disney Day" or whatever they are calling it promotion where the park is open 24-hours straight on leap day. I wouldn't be surprised if it is indeed pretty busy all weekend into and through Tuesday this week.


The holiday was last Monday, but many schools have the entire week off.

I'm not sure you're talking about the same thing. I think iceman was talking about the leap day promotion where DL and the MK are open 24 hours, and that happens next Wednesday.

[danyoung]

I think the point that everyone can agree on is that people who intentionally grab as many fast passes as they can planning to not use them until late at night to avoid standby lines can be considered "abusers". Agreed?

That's all I've been trying to say.

[iceman559]

I'm not sure you're talking about the same thing. I think iceman was talking about the leap day promotion where DL and the MK are open 24 hours, and that happens next Wednesday.

That we weren't. We were addressing the same topic but in different ways. The actual holiday was indeed the previous week as 3P1P said, and Malcon10t mentioned a holiday, so she was clarifying assuming Malcon10t was referring to President's Day and it's effects even into this week. And yeah, I was indeed talking about the leap day promotion, which is actually next Tuesday into Wednesday, isn't it? 6AM Tuesday, 2/29, to 6AM Wednesday, 3/1, iirc. I'd expect the crowds will be heavy through the weekend into Tuesday/Wednesday though if people from out of town are planning on taking part.


That's all I've been trying to say.

I'm glad we finally got it down, haha. It just took us a while! At least we're on the same page now.

[cstephens]

And yeah, I was indeed talking about the leap day promotion, which is actually next Tuesday into Wednesday, isn't it? 6AM Tuesday, 2/29, to 6AM Wednesday, 3/1, iirc.

Nope, your calendar is off. The promotion is from 6am on Wednesday, February 29 through 6am on Thursday, March 1.

[iceman559]

Nope, your calendar is off. The promotion is from 6am on Wednesday, February 29 through 6am on Thursday, March 1.

That's what I get for trusting Google! I searched for February 2012 calendar and apparently someone decided to be a jokester! That's what I get for not using the calendar built into Ubuntu! Sorry!

[iceman559]

Likely fuel for the argument against keeping the system how it is, MiceChat had an interesting blurb in an article today about a big backup at Splash Mountain's FP line the other day. Scroll down to the "This and That" section here (http://micechat.com/blogs/in-the-parks/3329-six-park-socal-update-disneyland-dca-knotts-seaworld-six-flags-universal.html) if you want to read it yourself.

They have a picture of the line as well. It's backed up from the CM checking tickets all the way back under the bridge the train goes over. Since it's backed up at all the way there, I'm assuming it meant the ride was down or something and they just weren't letting people on at that time. I can't image the FP queue being backed up all the way from inside where they take the tickets back to there, regardless of how many people are "hoarding" FPs...

[pcrazy99]

Regardless of what the rules are there will always be a way to work the system to your advantage. You just have to adapt and figure out what way to make the system work for you.

[elke]

Hi all,
so, any updates on the FP checking this past weekend - Mal?
thanks!
elke

[houseofmouse]

Hi all,
so, any updates on the FP checking this past weekend - Mal?
thanks!
elke

Pretty sure it is not supposed to begin until sometime in March.

[Offwithyourhead]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and I could use a fast pass all day as long as it was past the start time on it. I tried to use one from the previous day once but they would not let me.

[candles71]

Pretty sure it is not supposed to begin until sometime in March.

She was the one whose trip coincides with enforcement. I think she was checking to see if they were doing it early.

[Malcon10t]

Hi all,
so, any updates on the FP checking this past weekend - Mal?
thanks!
elke
They were not enforcing it this past weekend. It was very noticeable at California Screamin'. The line waiting to enter the FP queue was 15-20 mins while the standby queue was 40 mins. It extended out onto the pier area.

[Teddi]

But are they really telling everyone and actively encouraging it? The ONLY place I've ever heard that you could use FPs outside the window is here. When I've given away my unused FPs and mentioned that you could use them outside the window, I've never gotten a response other than suspicion that I'm wrong. I'm not trying to argue, I've just never heard a CM promoting or publicizing the use of a FP outside its window.

I promise you, I promise you, many times I have heard CMs do just that. I have overheard them offering up the info to other guests twice, as I recall. Also, during the "Year of a Million Break-Downs", aka, last year... CMs were reliant on the flexibility due to ride break-downs. Also, I've had a CM tell me and other guests on three different occasions to "come back later" (without regard to FP times) when the FP queues were long (ToT, BTRR) to the point of causing backup at the ride entrance.

[Malcon10t]

Is there going to be anyone there on the 7th to verify this?

[jananafish]

I'm not going until the 16th :/ I can ask around for you...my friend goes once a week but she does not always use FP since she goes during the week. I'll let you know!

[AVP]

Is there going to be anyone there on the 7th to verify this?I plan to be.

[AVP]

I went to Disneyland to check this, and they have not changed the wording on the tickets or added signs outside the attractions (both of which were done this morning at Walt Disney World), and a CM I asked at a Fastpass return line said they were not given any instructions to begin enforcement today. "So far" that's just a WDW thing he said.

So we're still "wait and see."

AVP

[LOZZYPOP]

Thanks for keeping up posted AVP. I, for one, will be monitoring the situation closely. I have done a rough touring plan for our trip in May but of course, the plan changes drastically if we can use FPs outside the return window.

Mind you, I am not complaining about enforcement one way or the other, but I am going to take advantage of whatever the FP enforcement policy is when I go.

[dlfansx4]

I went to Disneyland to check this, and they have not changed the wording on the tickets or added signs outside the attractions (both of which were done this morning at Walt Disney World), and a CM I asked at a Fastpass return line said they were not given any instructions to begin enforcement today. "So far" that's just a WDW thing he said.

So we're still "wait and see."

AVP

Thanks so much for the update!!

[jcatron243]

Thanks so much for checking this out!! It makes our trip a little more stress free if we can use our park touring plan!

[TTFN92]

Yay!!