Fastpass Window Enforced?

[olegc]

i heard this as well on the twitter-verse. if indeed enforcement is held firm - now not only does this change your visit pattern - but it also may keep folks from grabbing as many fastpasses as they can up front. Usually FP in the morning have sooner return times (30 min from when you grab it, 1 hour maybe) but later in the day we all know it gets later. Now if you grab them all up front you'll have to use them up front - and then you're done with your rides... It might be a good thing - but all the strategies folks have created over the years will need to be seriously modified.

[GusMan]

From what I have seen so far, most complaints are from those who blatantly "take advantage of" the current system by hoarding FP's till several hours past their window, or even until EMH.

[olegc]

From what I have seen so far, most complaints are from those who blatantly "take advantage of" the current system by hoarding FP's till several hours past their window, or even until EMH.

i will admit that my family and I do hold on to them - but I would not characterize it as hoarding. we try to plan our one day visits (mostly Disneyland) since we can't afford to go often - so we try to maximize our day as best we can. that means mapping our time walking through the park efficiently and being able to use our FP when we can throughout the day. Yes - some say this is unfair and I guess it takes away from some sort of flow - but i just wanted to state for the record this is what we do. Hoarding? no. Have a full day plan? yes.

[Drince88]

Where I see this as being the biggest issue is at Toy Story Midway Mania. You get in line to get a fastpass, and the return window is before your lunch ADR, but by the time you get to the machine, it's right smack dab in the middle of your meal time.

What do you do then? Get back in line so that it's AFTER lunch by the time you get there? - plus then you have one FP that's you can't get another one for, since it wasn't until you actually GOT the fastpass did you realize it was now in the middle of lunch time (since you can't see the 'current time' from the 'almost there' side of the queue).

And are they really going to start letting people in 5 minutes early? I hope not.

[GusMan]

i will admit that my family and I do hold on to them - but I would not characterize it as hoarding.

For clarification on my end... there are people who openly admit grossly abusing the system. Thats what I am reporting above - and not me actually calling someone a hoarder, etc. (Not that I think you took my comments in a personal manner.)

I think this is going to make things more rather difficult for those who usually try to use FP's as close to their assigned window as possible. Its also going to make things even harder to use for those who have never used them anywhere near their designated time.

Agreed with Drince... the 5 minutes early part is rather silly.

I think some of the more popular online guides and guidebooks are going to have to revamp some of their content to accommodate these changes for sure.

[danyoung]

It's hard to fault people for maximizing their use of FP's, as Disney has been pretty public about not enforcing the end times. It will be an adjustment for some if they start enforcing their own rules. But it's their parks, and they can do what they want. Not that I'm a goody two shoes or anything, but I pretty much always use my FP's within the time window. But I can see where there will be some situations as Drince outlined above where it'll be pretty tough to keep a strict appointment. Maybe they'll start allowing the CMs to give you another FP with a later time if you receive one that you can't use due to meal scheduling conflicts.

[GusMan]

Maybe they'll start allowing the CMs to give you another FP with a later time if you receive one that you can't use due to meal scheduling conflicts.

There's an idea that I think makes sense. Then again.... one might say that if you know when you may have a conflict during a certain time, and the FP return time is posted during the same time, dont get the FP's then.

Dont get me wrong - love the idea... just seeing both sides of the coin.

[danyoung]

Well, the scenario that Drince had a few posts ago is a real concern.

[Barberella]

l plan to be in MK until mid-day on March 7 (the day they're supposed to roll this new FP system out) before I head for the airport. I'm chronically early, so if there's anything to post about, I'll likely have time at the gate.

[GusMan]

Well, the scenario that Drince had a few posts ago is a real concern.

I agree... it is... And for those who really try to follow the return time window on the FP, its always been an issue. For attractions that run out of FP's in record time , like TSM, you either get the FP's first thing, or you dont get them at all. (Not untypical to stand in line for 20 mins to get a FP for the ride.)

You then, become a slave to the FP system, rather than it being flexible.

[Barberella]

I agree... it is... And for those who really try to follow the return time window on the FP, its always been an issue. For attractions that run out of FP's in record time , like TSM, you either get the FP's first thing, or you dont get them at all. (Not untypical to stand in line for 20 mins to get a FP for the ride.)

You then, become a slave to the FP system, rather than it being flexible.

This made me wonder if the tests of opening DHS differently had something to do with this: http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/show...ning-Procedure because with the controlled opening, there isn't that crush - and subsequent wait in line - to get a FP. To get a FP at TSM now likely requires no more than 5 minutes (tops) in line. Yes, the FPs are 'gone' earlier in the day, but that has to do with ride capacity and the FPs would still be issued 'first come, first serve', so it's a fair process.

This also made me wonder if there are so many logistical problems with a 1 hour window (too tight) that I wonder if they don't plan to expand the 1 hour window. For example, expanding the window to 2 hours and 35 minutes with 5 minutes before that window and 20 minutes after, allows a reasonable 3 hours total in which to use a FP; doesn't contradict the info that's out on the web; and eliminates the problem of people collecting FPs throughout the day, but using them only at night.

[Drince88]

But how is that 'controlled opening' of DHS any different than just opening it a little sooner than posted, and not holding people at the end of the street. Word will get out that the advertised opening time is off, and people will just get to the park earlier. And then the bottle neck is before the gates and not at the end of the street?

[Barberella]

I don't want this thread to get too far off-topic, but as stated in the other thread - there didn't appear to be - nor can I find any anecdotal evidence that there was - any bottleneck with these unannounced openings.

Even the fact that the original OP of the other thread was trying to find out if they were still doing the unannounced early openings speaks to the reasoning that most people won't arrive before the announced opening time.

[TinaMouse]

I envision a LOT of Fast Passes going unused now. You THINK you'll be back in time, get stuck in line at Cosmic Ray's, and miss the window. So the "slot" goes unused. Don't you think the FP lines will be THAT much shorter now? (Along with people's tempers at arriving a few minutes past the "grace period.")

[tappenfeat]

We've been offered quite a few fast passes by total strangers. Even a whole day pass! We must be cute!

[Barberella]

We've been offered quite a few fast passes by total strangers. Even a whole day pass! We must be cute!

ROFL! Yes, that is definitely the reason!

[Drince88]

We've been offered quite a few fast passes by total strangers. Even a whole day pass! We must be cute!

Cute and with the right number of people!

[tappenfeat]

I know...maybe because we go around with smiles and skip? LOL!!! And a party of 4!!! haa haa!!!

[mxrapu]

I envision a LOT of Fast Passes going unused now. You THINK you'll be back in time, get stuck in line at Cosmic Ray's, and miss the window. So the "slot" goes unused. Don't you think the FP lines will be THAT much shorter now? (Along with people's tempers at arriving a few minutes past the "grace period.")

I respectfully disagree. I just don't think it's that difficult to be at the ride at the appointed time if you plan accordingly. We weren't even aware that FPs could be used after the end time until our most recent trip, and we almost never had unused FPs On the very rare occasion where it turned out we couldn't use them, we just shrugged it off. There was no reason to lose our tempers if our poor planning or bad luck interfered with returning at the appointed time. There were even times when we made the conscious decision to eat or whatever rather than use the FP. That was our choice and no big deal. Rather than lots of unused FPs, I think the result will be more FPs available for the rest of us because people will start doing what we have always done--get FPs only if the return time is a time you can actually be at the ride entrance.

The key will be how well Disney publicizes this change in policy, so that people who are used to using FPs after the specified time can adapt to the change. I also agree that TSM is problematic. Those passes go so quickly, that you really have no idea what the return time is going to be because it is changing even as you insert your tickets. Also, there needs to be some sort of policy for what to do when a ride goes down. But I'm sure Disney has thought of these contingencies and will have a plan for dealing with them.

[TinaMouse]

I agree that the change won't affect me personally because, like you, I change my touring to accommodate my FPs. I stick to the window. I just wonder if the masses, those that seem so entitled, will follow suit. I agree with you that how well they publicize is the key.

[olegc]

I just wonder if the masses, those that seem so entitled, will follow suit. I agree with you that how well they publicize is the key.

off topic - but I never consider it the masses that feel entitled, only those who are extremely vocal and visual in their intent. Let's not characterize the larger audience due to the smaller pains-in-the-you-know-what. - and of course that's an opinion.

[GusMan]

This is still getting quite a bit of tweeting.... One site reports:

Disney went on to remind cast members that this is not a change, but a reminder of the existing policy.

And...

Cast members will be allowed to make exceptions for things such as personal emergencies, a delay in meal service or when an attraction stops running during the return window.

So, once again, we are back from it being real strict to what is, in essence, CM discretion. I mean, it would only be the right thing to do, to allow someone to still use their FP if they are delayed beyond their control. But that also means that if you are wanting to hold on to your FP to use several hours later, there is a chance that you can be denied.

Personally, I dont think I would take the chance of being denied... Stick with the times and things will be fine.

[olegc]

as GusMan points out (from the other blog site)
"Cast members will be allowed to make exceptions for things such as personal emergencies, a delay in meal service or when an attraction stops running during the return window. "

So depending on who you encounter, if they're having a good or bad day, or if they demand proof or not, it will affect you. His advice is good - but you know the FP return line will get delayed every so often by someone who insisted they were delayed by something out of their control. We'll just have to see.

Besides, I believe it will get tweaked again once Xpass gets put into full commission.

[GusMan]

Xpass?

[Barberella]

Xpass is the (rumored) 'premium' Fastpass - it's expected to be introduced in the next year or so. Supposedly, making guests adhere (more or less) to the FP rules next month is introductory to the changes that will come with Xpass.