Fastpass Window Enforced?

[GusMan]

Ive had it happen both ways. In most cases, the FP they handed out was good to the end of the next day.

[Mermaid]

I agree that I have no real issue as long as it is enforced. I also like the idea of a grace period- but no more than an hour. I don't even really need that to be on the ticket. I think if it is, someone will say "I was only 62 minutes late." I admit to be a 6 hour late user at DL. At WDW, I was never more than 30 minutes late. I didn't want to risk it. Even so, if they decide to change the policy to stick to the return time to the minute, I can abide by it. No problem. Just don't make me pay for it!

[mxrapu]

I remember reading about the FP system when it was first introduced. My understanding is that Disney introduced the system for the purpose of line management. That is why they don't charge for them--a bunch of people with passes to get to the front of the line whenever they want actually causes lines to move more slowly (I've observed this phenomenon at several parks that sell "front of the line" passes). That is also why the FP times are very specific (e.g., 1:13-2:13, not 1:00-2:00, 2:00-3:00, and so on). The return times should be enforced to optimize the line management benefit of the system.

I agree with others who have stated that the one hour window is not unreasonable. We have always managed to return during the appointed hour. If the return time is not convenient for us, we don't get the FP. We either wait in the standby line or go back later. I understand that there could be unforeseeable circumstances that would prevent one from being able to return during the stated hour, but they should be the exception, not the rule. And in those circumstances, I would have no problem accepting the fact that I wouldn't be able to use the FP. Things happen. That's life.

But I also strongly agree that enforcement needs to be consistent.

[3Princesses1Prince]

I guess I'm just nervous about the when and where they may enforce it since our trip is so close. If I know up font when I get my FP thats fine. If its inconsistent and I get turned away at one ride but not the next I'm going to be annoyed. There are some rides I particularly enjoy at night and will save FPs for that purpose so it'll be interesting trying to time things more carefully.

[danyoung]

I don't see how coming later clogs up anything.

GusMan had a good example using numbers. Let me put it another way (and I'm just making these numbers up for illustration). Let's say that a ride capacity is 1000 people per hour, and Disney does half of those, or 500, as FPs. If your return time is say 1pm to 2pm, and everyone abides by their return time, then the FP line will move smoothly. But if say 100 of those people decide to wait till later in the day, say between 7pm and 8pm, then during that hour the ride needs to soak up its normal allotment of guests AND those extra 100 people. And then if you add in all the other hours where people are saving their tickets and coming later than the posted time on their FP, then there will really be a clog of people in the FP line during those later hours. Disney CMs usually give preference to the people in the FP line, even if it does get a bit long. So that means that the standby line will move even slower.

Seems to me the best and most fair way is to post the times for return on the FP and then stick to it.

[3Princesses1Prince]

But Dan in your scenario that ride is ahead of schedule by 100 people because they hadn't entered line yet and "should have". So 100 people in stand by have been able to ride ahead of the 100 people returning late with FPs. I understand in extreme cases where 100 Brazilians (a recent issue discussed another fan site) get in line at once or even right after parades or fireworks (though I've never experienced this in Disneyland).

[TinaMouse]

I think when I go in a few weeks (and maybe, Shannon, you can do this too since you leave this weekend), I'll be "interviewing" CMs. I want to know just how wide spread the IDEA of enforcing is. I'm with all of you--just enforce it. Perhaps, though, they should print something on the park info somewhere that FP times will now be enforced. There's a LOT of people who know that the end time was slushie, at worst.

I try to use the FP within the allotted time--I always did. Ya all know I'm a rule follower. There were times, though, that we got an incredibly slow TS (SCI FI) and I was VERY late for my Rock N Roller Coaster FP. I felt guilty. LOL!

[danyoung]

But Dan in your scenario that ride is ahead of schedule by 100 people because they hadn't entered line yet and "should have". So 100 people in stand by have been able to ride ahead of the 100 people returning late with FPs.

Yes, you're correct about that. The problem as I've read about it is during those evening hours, when everything just clogs up as people from earlier in the day all jam the FP queue instead of the 500 per hour that it was designed for.

[petesimac]

I think enforcing the fastpass windows is a good idea, as long as the CMs are relatively flexible; to me, anything less than an hour after the cut-off would be fine, but all CMs must be on the same page. Perhaps if this policy is adopted, the lines will run more smoothly for everyone. Let's hope so!

[danyoung]

Seems to me that any cutoff is going to cause problems. If they decide to be hard line and cut off right at the time on the FP ticket, then of course there will be those who complain that their ride was broken or their dinner went long or whatever. But if they give an hour leeway, and someone comes in 62 minutes late with the same complaints, how does the CM handle that? I think that going with the time on the ticket is the least objectionable way to deal with it, and would be the easiest for the CMs to justify to cranky guests.

[scoobydooby]

Just don't make me pay for it!

Yeah well said.

[CBFETT]

Seems to me that any cutoff is going to cause problems. If they decide to be hard line and cut off right at the time on the FP ticket, then of course there will be those who complain that their ride was broken or their dinner went long or whatever. But if they give an hour leeway, and someone comes in 62 minutes late with the same complaints, how does the CM handle that? I think that going with the time on the ticket is the least objectionable way to deal with it, and would be the easiest for the CMs to justify to cranky guests.

I think enforcing it would be a good thing for all to keep all the lines running as efficiently as possible for all. FP or NFP Lines. But I agree, it will cause issues if you give any type of leeway time after the end time on the FP. What is it? 2 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour? Doing this places the CM in a position to have to make a judgement call. And you know they all won't make the same call. I say enforce it to the time on the ticket. Period. But things do happen, Rides break down, extra slow table service (aka Tina's example), etc. Why not add an hour to the FP window. Instead of one hour, make it two hours but enforce it. That should give anyone plenty of time to make the window. If you can't make it in two hours, I am sorry but feel like that's tough stuff. I am not trying to be mean, but just direct. Two hours is plenty of time in my book and alleeviates a lot of issues in my opinion.

[danyoung]

Doing this places the CM in a position to have to make a judgement call. And you know they all won't make the same call.

And that is exactly the problem. How can they be kind to the one group that was a few minutes late and then turn around and deny the next group? If they go with the time on the FP, they can simply point at the "official" clock on the sign and say "you had a full hour to get here, so sorry but try again".

[3Princesses1Prince]

I think enforcing it would be a good thing for all to keep all the lines running as efficiently as possible for all. FP or NFP Lines. But I agree, it will cause issues if you give any type of leeway time after the end time on the FP. What is it? 2 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour? Doing this places the CM in a position to have to make a judgement call. And you know they all won't make the same call. I say enforce it to the time on the ticket. Period. But things do happen, Rides break down, extra slow table service (aka Tina's example), etc. Why not add an hour to the FP window. Instead of one hour, make it two hours but enforce it. That should give anyone plenty of time to make the window. If you can't make it in two hours, I am sorry but feel like that's tough stuff. I am not trying to be mean, but just direct. Two hours is plenty of time in my book and alleeviates a lot of issues in my opinion.

I agree about sticking to the time printed with a 2 hour window listed on the ticket. It gives enough time, and it eliminates the wishy-washy vs. rogue CM enforcing any leeways. I think one issue with having an hour leeway is when some CMs abide by it, some are strict and want to stick to the time printed, and some are wishy-washy and still let people in after the leeway time.

Tina, I will chat up some CMs about this. See what the thinking is. Moving over to this NextGen system, I can see where there will need to be a change. I was upset about the "sporadic testing" remark....umm, no! Either do it or don't, and tell me which! I DID hear on another fan site that the "testing" right now is surveying those that return late and why. Hopefully to avoid pitfalls in the new system. I really hope they survey us, because I'm more than willing to put my 2 cents in.

[CBFETT]

I really hope they survey us, because I'm more than willing to put my 2 cents in.

I think they should just hire a group of us here to solve all their issues, we'd be great at it!

[danyoung]

I agree about sticking to the time printed with a 2 hour window listed on the ticket. It gives enough time, and it eliminates the wishy-washy vs. rogue CM enforcing any leeways. I think one issue with having an hour leeway is when some CMs abide by it, some are strict and want to stick to the time printed, and some are wishy-washy and still let people in after the leeway time.

I wouldn't have any problem with a 2 hour window instead of one hour. As long as they enforce it evenly, no exceptions or giving in to cranky guests, then it's a fair limitation to the FP system.

[3Princesses1Prince]

I wouldn't have any problem with a 2 hour window instead of one hour. As long as they enforce it evenly, no exceptions or giving in to cranky guests, then it's a fair limitation to the FP system.

Absolutely.

[danyoung]

I just love it when we find agreement!!!

[CBFETT]

I just love it when we find agreement!!!

See problem solved. Next!

[StarTourist]

I can't tell you how useful a Fastpass can be. Especially when it is used a few hours after the printed end time. I would love to be able to 'obey' the printed end times on the Fastpass, but it's not always an option.

Example: The Disney Dining Plan. Because of that system, everyone fills up ALL available dining times. It's even worse when those free dining promos are in effect. So what did we do? We stopped using it. Now, we are completely unbound by reservations. We are free to do whatever we want, whenever we want. We hit a restaurant right before busy meal times with only a normal wait time, if any.

How does this relate to this proposed enforcement of the Fastpass? We had to find a better way. Using the Fastpass beyond it's end time for that day frees you. You get to Hollywood Studios first thing in the morning and get Fastpasses for the family for Toy Story Midway Mania. Or Soarin' at EPCOT. Or Stitch's Great Escape(just kidding) Once you have that Fastpass and you know for a certainty that you can come back anytime after the end time for the rest of the day absolutely sets you free. You can now 'lock in' two attraction experiences for the same amount of wait time as one attraction.

The great equalizer is that you cannot obtain another Fastpass too soon after you get one. Somewhere, somehow, you're still going to wait in line. But if you hold onto a Fastpass for a few hours, you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're getting on that attraction no matter what(barring breakdowns or emergencies of course) Even then, we end up changing our plans sometimes and we cannot use the Fastpass. I'll give them away to the first people that we meet that accept them from me. Makes me feel like those Disney Dream CMs who gave away those Dream Fastpasses. But I digress...

Disney CMs would have to have a zero tolerance policy. No exceptions. Across the board. That is the only way that the Fastpass window can be enforced. I agree that a one hour window is too short. I also agree that the window should be increased to two hours. But if Disney allowed for a grace period after a two hour window, then there would always be someone who is one minute late. Or five. Or ten. That one or two hour window would always seem too short for those people. There is always going to be a need to allow those guests a grace period. But once you officially announce a grace period, it effectively makes the return time equivalent to that given amount of time, negating the need for a end time in the first place. That is why the end time is there: It is for those who can and will abide by it for whatever reason. And trust me, I would love for that to be possible for us sometimes. But it usually is not.

[currence]

I still think that they will need to have a grace period to allow for variations in time. My "official" clock on my computer is 3 minutes different from the actual time. I have learned to adjust but it's still annoying. I can only imagine if Disney enforced fastpasses to the minute based on "Disney" time how many people would scream at them because their watch said that they still had 30 seconds, or they would have been at the front on time but the CM took too long with the party in front of them, etc. Even if it was just a 5 minute grace period, that would stop most of the people who legitimately thought that they had made it from being completely disappointed. Completely disappointed does not make for happy Disney memories.

[cstephens]

I still think that they will need to have a grace period to allow for variations in time. My "official" clock on my computer is 3 minutes different from the actual time.

But they use the clock at the entrance of each ride as the official time when one can start using a Fastpass at the appointed time, so that should be used for any kind of deadline time as well. People would have to make sure they're synced with that time.

Even if it was just a 5 minute grace period

Ahhh, but then that's the problem with grace periods - where does it stop? If it's five minutes, what about the person who shows up 20 seconds after the five minutes is up? And the person who shows up 30 seconds after that? And repeat that in 30 to 60 second intervals for the next 30 minutes. Where does the line get drawn? That's not a determination that a random individual CM should be making.

[danyoung]

I can't tell you how useful a Fastpass can be. Especially when it is used a few hours after the printed end time. I would love to be able to 'obey' the printed end times on the Fastpass, but it's not always an option.

So you have found a loophole that you can employ to your benefit. And that's fine, as Disney up to now hasn't been enforcing thier own rules. But if they start enforcing the end time, then you'll have to adjust and abide by the rules, just like everyone else.

[currence]

People would have to make sure they're synced with that time.

I still run into people who don't know what fastpasses are, don't know that they are free, etc. Expecting that class of people, who have barely graduated to getting a fastpass, to suddenly know that they need to sync their watches to Disneytime seems like a quick way to ruin a vacation. On the other hand, if a person has graduated from basic fastpass to advanced fastpass and knows that Disney has a secret grace period of xx minutes and then is even 1 minute after that, I have no problem turning them away.

That's not a determination that a random individual CM should be making.

I agree, if they start enforcing end times they should consistently enforce them. But I would rather Disney have a policy that returning xx minutes after the end time is acceptable is better than having people fight with the CM for a specific exception because otherwise their entire trip will be ruined. Again, I am thinking primarily about the difference between basic users and advanced users.

[jheigl]

I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand, I applaud it because FASTPASS has a return time for a reason. People should honor that (I shouldn't talk, I often abuse that). On the other hand, people can genuinely get held up whether in line for other attractions, dining somewhere, transportation issues, traffic, etc. There are legit reasons people are late. Perhaps they can extend it to a two hour window instead of a one hour window and be strict on the return time so no late returns accepted...? (I must admit I have not read the entire thread, so apologies if this has been proposed before).