sandmannn69 and son-Nov 4-8, Disneyland, Tropicana Inn

[sandmannn69]

Travel dates:Nov 4-8
Travel method:Southwest Airlines
Resort:Tropicana Inn
Accommodations:Standard room
Ages Represented in Group:46, 19
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group:Every year since 1993

Arrived Nov 4 morning, checked in around 10:30. After a big brunch at Denny's, picked up our 4-day parkhoppers at the ticket booth. Bit of a hassle there, as they couldn't find record of our purchase thru getawaytoday.com, should've just used Disney travel as usual. Park was pretty empty as we expected, with no need to use fastpass-most rides were 5-10 minute waits all day (except Peter Pan, of course). Indy broke down, that's a first for us. Thursday morning used our MM, but Tomorrowland was selected, so kind of a disappointment. Went right to Indy at opening (like everybody else), but it broke down again-this sucks! HM looked very good for a change, not sure if anything different, just looked fresh. Love that holiday overlay. Too bad the rude idiots with the camera flashes have to spoil it. Taking a lunch break now, watching "POTC-Dead Man's Chest". Going back over soon, park pretty quiet again today with short lines, beautiful cool weather (we're from AZ).

[whamo]

Consider yourself lucky! Uncrowded Disneyland is rare these days. This weekend looks to be very crowded due to the 10,000 gamers at the convention center, the filming of the Christmas Special, and the fireworks show.

[sandmannn69]

Originally Posted by sandmannn69

Travel dates:Nov 4-8
Travel method:Southwest Airlines
Resort:Tropicana Inn
Accommodations:Standard room
Ages Represented in Group:46, 19
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group:Every year since 1993

Arrived Nov 4 morning, checked in around 10:30. After a big brunch at Denny's, picked up our 4-day parkhoppers at the ticket booth. Bit of a hassle there, as they couldn't find record of our purchase thru getawaytoday.com, should've just used Disney travel as usual. Park was pretty empty as we expected, with no need to use fastpass-most rides were 5-10 minute waits all day (except Peter Pan, of course). Indy broke down, that's a first for us. Thursday morning used our MM, but Tomorrowland was selected, so kind of a disappointment. Went right to Indy at opening (like everybody else), but it broke down again-this sucks! HM looked very good for a change, not sure if anything different, just looked fresh. Love that holiday overlay. Too bad the rude idiots with the camera flashes have to spoil it. Taking a lunch break now, watching "POTC-Dead Man's Chest". Going back over soon, park pretty quiet again today with short lines, beautiful cool weather (we're from AZ).

After lunch, visited CA. No lines on Screaming, Soaring, or grizzly. Finished the day at Disney, finally riding Indy without a breakdown.

Friday morning did the BB for lunch. Wow, that Monte Cristo sandwich was good! Park was a little busier, but nothing major. In the evening, watched the fireworks from our third floor room while eating supper, then went over for the 10:30 Fantasmic show. That "Pole Trick" is slicker than snot, got in position 20 min. before the show and had perfect viewing about 10 ft. behind the $60 seats. Park closed at midnight, I think we were one of the last 100 to leave. Expecting bigger crowd on Sat. of f course.

[julesann]

sandmannn sound like you're having a lovely trip. I have getawaytoday tickets. do you have any suggestions about how to best handle the ticket problem if this happens to me in a few weeks. thank you.

[sandmannn69]

Originally Posted by julesann

sandmannn sound like you're having a lovely trip. I have getawaytoday tickets. do you have any suggestions about how to best handle the ticket problem if this happens to me in a few weeks. thank you.

Yes, make sure you have all the paperwork that you received from getawaytoday.com. The Disneyland folks were looking for a number which was probably listed on my original invoice, and apparently they had to call getawaytoday to verify it. When I asked if they have this probably with getawaytoday very often, one of the ladies helping us said yes. Which means next year, I'll probably go back to using Disney travel.
Hope you don't run into this problem, just have all the documents they sent you, and you should be fine. Have a good time, we always do!

[sandmannn69]

Originally Posted by sandmannn69

After lunch, visited CA. No lines on Screaming, Soaring, or grizzly. Finished the day at Disney, finally riding Indy without a breakdown.

Friday morning did the BB for lunch. Wow, that Monte Cristo sandwich was good! Park was a little busier, but nothing major. In the evening, watched the fireworks from our third floor room while eating supper, then went over for the 10:30 Fantasmic show. That "Pole Trick" is slicker than snot, got in position 20 min. before the show and had perfect viewing about 10 ft. behind the $60 seats. Park closed at midnight, I think we were one of the last 100 to leave. Expecting bigger crowd on Sat. of f course.

Final episode: Slept in Saturday after closing the park Friday nite, didn't get over to DL to about noon. It was more crowded, but still pretty enjoyable, only long lines were Indy and Space, of course. Since we had plenty of FPs saved from the previous days, never had to stand in line. Noticed the gear setup in front of the castle, figured it was for the filming but didn't see any going on while we were there.
Picked up a nice warm DL pullover for my mom in ND and another DL cap (about the ninth one in 15 years). Didn't stay as late Sat. nite (early flight Sunday morning), but did watch the fireworks while riding on Big Thunder, that was cool. And CA Screaming is so much better at nite, especially with my fear of heights. Caught the plane home to Glendale, AZ in the morning, another excellent trip to Disneyland accomplished.
Woo Hoo!

[julesann]

wowww! You can save FP's. I didn't know that! how does that work? thanks (and thanks for the Getawaytoday info.) I talked with them and my tickets are all set up.

[MammaSilva]

Actually you're not allowed to use FP from any day but the current day, the OP got darn lucky because I've seen CM's turn people away with expired fast passes.

[julesann]

thanks mammasilva--that's what I thought.

[sandmannn69]

Originally Posted by julesann

wowww! You can save FP's. I didn't know that! how does that work? thanks (and thanks for the Getawaytoday info.) I talked with them and my tickets are all set up.

The CM's just check to see if the time is valid, they don't bother checking the date. Doesn't help that the date is usually covered by your finger holding the FP, but that's the way they are printed. Helps if you're with a group of people entering the queue.

[sandmannn69]

Originally Posted by MammaSilva

Actually you're not allowed to use FP from any day but the current day, the OP got darn lucky because I've seen CM's turn people away with expired fast passes.

Guess I'm just eternally lucky then, never been denied.

[MammaSilva]

oh so it wasn't a fluke that you really didn't understand the system, you intentionally cheated by intentionally covering the date and count on a hectic situation for the CM to help you abuse the system. Nice.

[sandmannn69]

Originally Posted by MammaSilva

oh so it wasn't a fluke that you really didn't understand the system, you intentionally cheated by intentionally covering the date and count on a hectic situation for the CM to help you abuse the system. Nice.

Yeah, it is nice. Understanding the system is the key to knowing how to hack it. Most guests don't even know how the FP system works, so being in the minority I don't see any harm done. Since they probably check the collected FPs at the end of the day to see how few expired ones they received, I'm sure they realize it's not a major problem. It's not abuse if they leave the opportunity open by ignoring the date. If you want to call it cheating, think about that next time you exceed the posted speed limit, or don't come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Something about glass houses comes to mind....

[MammaSilva]

Um actually I do come to a complete stop and drive within the limits, buy tickets for children 3 and up...don't assume because you've justified cheating the system everyone does it.

[sierranevada]

Originally Posted by sandmannn69

Yeah, it is nice. Understanding the system is the key to knowing how to hack it.

Wow - sounds like you are proud of the fact that you know how to game the system. I am with MammaSilva on this one - just because you got away with it, doesn't make it right.

Originally Posted by sandmannn69

It's not abuse if they leave the opportunity open by ignoring the date.

I disagree. It is abuse - just because Disney did not think through all possible scenarios that people could take advantage of doesn't make it right.

[jimsocks]

I'm with Sandmannn - though I do pay full posted entry prices for the kids...it's a gray area - but if it's okay to use the fast pass after the posted time (and by well established precedent they do) - then you have to allow next day use also, if Disney does.

Drawing the "moral" line by date, when none is drawn by time, is simply arbitrary.

[MammaSilva]

While I can appreciate the time thing, Disney does that openly but they do not do the next day thing openly and that's the difference in policy. You don't have to cover the return time with your finger while the CM looks at your pass to be allowed entry into the queue, if you have to have your finger over the date so the CM can't see it was issued on a different day, that's intentional deceit ~ two totally different situations IMHO.


It's like the food issue, if I have snacks in my bag and the CM sees them and allows them thru I haven't deceived the CM or Disney, if I go back to an attraction after my FP window but hand the CM the pass and not try hiding any of the information such as oh the date it was issued then I'm not trying to game the system, if I have to cover up the date to get in, then it's like saying your 3 year old is only 2...it's gaining advantage dishonestly.

[sierranevada]

As MammaSilva said, Disney allows use of the Fastpass after the time frame. The are reasons for this, some being that people can get caught on a ride that breaks down, it can take longer at a restaurant to be served, etc. It is meant to be a little flexible since things can and do happen while you are at the park THAT DAY. And that is the difference, it is only flexible for THAT DAY. They do not honor them the following day so by deliberately holding your finger over the date so the CM can not see it is dishonest. I just don't see the justification for it since you acknowledge that you have to cheat in order to be able to use it.

[jimsocks]

Originally Posted by MammaSilva

While I can appreciate the time thing, Disney does that openly but they do not do the next day thing openly and that's the difference in policy.

Openly? No they don't. No where in their (written) policy is using the FP past the stated time okay. They simply allow it.

If you happen to be "in the know" - then you can take advantage. But, what about all the other first timers and non-Disney board readers who go to the park and simply don't know any better? Is it fair to them?

Again, you can't just arbitrarily draw the line where you think it should be drawn. Disney has purposely blurred it. Leading to a blurred interpretation.

[MammaSilva]

I agree with you that the line is blurred with the return windows being extended for the day of issue. When the CM's openly accept Fast passes from prior visits then that line has been blurred as well.

The difference here is that the OP openly admits the intentional deception of the CM to gain admission to a fast pass line. If you use a 'valid' fast pass beyond the window by walking up and simply handing it to the CM and they accept it cool, is that fair to someone who is not aware that the return time isn't in stone, I agree, it's not and if the day comes you can walk up with a fast pass issued on a prior visit and hand it openly to the CM without any effort to disguise the date of issue then that line becomes blurred, but until it's done with the full knowledge of the CM's it's the same as sneaking a toddler in free or twins using one AP ...

[kiwioogie]

Speaking of bending the rules .. I have a daughter just under the height restriction for Indy. How strict are the CM's on enforcing the height limit for this attraction?

[MammaSilva]

Very. It's a safety issue.

[adriennek]

Originally Posted by jimsocks

Disney has purposely blurred it. Leading to a blurred interpretation.

What's blurred about "I put my thumb over the date so they don't see what I'm doing"?

The OP knows exactly what he's doing.

Adrienne

[jimsocks]

Originally Posted by adriennek

What's blurred about "I put my thumb over the date so they don't see what I'm doing"?

The OP knows exactly what he's doing.

Adrienne

What's he doing? He's pushing the envelope on when exactly the end time on a FP is. Disney doesn't share what it is.

I'm confident there are tons of "unknowing" patrons at the park everyday who would be as sure as you are (about using a FP next day) that arriving after the end time on the FP sameday is not allowed. And also some who put their thumb over that time unnecessarily.

That line is blurred.

[MammaSilva]

It's only blurred if the incident happens accidentally, not if the guest intentionally "lies" as the OP stated he does by hiding relevant information. No blurred, OP brags about how he has to stategically place his thumb/finger over the date . If he didn't cover the date would he be allowed into the queue....then we start talking blurred, until then the OP is intentionally using a situation to gain advantage dishonestly.