(Most of this post is ideas that have been floating around in my head since the thread began, and not directed at Tom personally)
This is my favorite point in the entire argument for or against the rules. If the time printed on your Fastpass was a surprise, that would be one thing. But you know exactly what "reservation" you're getting as soon as you walk up. If you don't like the time or think it won't work for your schedule, don't get one.
Which is why, if they are going to enforce the "late" times, I think they should have adjusted the system to allow guests to pick a later time than what is currently displayed before getting your Fastpass. (as others in this thread have eloquently stated).
I appreciate that you presented this point in a clear and non-confrontational manner. Others have been less so. (ie - "But if the time wasn't good for you, you shouldn't have gotten the pass. So it's your fault if you're late... blah blah blah...")
With the new rules, like Burried 20K League, Donald Dole Whip, and others have pointed out, you could trek all the way across the park to get a Fastpass, only to find out when you get their that the time conflicts with something else you want to do - something that may only be taking place once that day - the afternoon parade, dinner reservations, the MSEP, the final performance of Lights Motors Action that day, etc).
Enforcing the "end time" in these cases puts guests in the position where they have to chose between missing something they want or not using the FP system at this time for this attraction, which would mean walking all the way across the park for nothing - defeating the time-saving aspect of the system in the first place and playing EXACTLY into the faults its critics say it has - that it causes more backtracking and doesn't always save the time you think it does.
Suggesting (not you personally) that someone forgo getting a FP for a particular attraction just because the time that is available when you are next to the machine doesn't work for you sounds unnecessarily harsh, IMO. If you wait, backtrack later, and try to get one for the window in which you want to ride the attraction, they could be gone. Again, more backtracking for nothing, and time wasted.
Now, it would be wrong for someone to get to the machine and feel "entitled" to an earlier time that has already been allocated. This corresponds with the principle of "First come, first serve, and "the early bird catches the worm".
But, it seems unfair to me that someone who wants a LATER time that hasn't been distributed yet has no way to get one when they are right next to the machine, if they start enforcing the return times, putting them in an either/or dilemma simply because they got to the Fastpass machines randomly at the wrong time - too early! Ironically, on a more crowded day when the passes go quicker, our hypothetical guest may have been able to get the exact time they wanted!
Now, obviously, under the current system that will change March 7, this has never been an issue for me since I've known from my first day of using the system that it wasn't considered "against the rules" to use them "late". So if the time was much earlier than what I wanted when standing next to the machine, I got it anyway, knowing it would still be good when I got back to the ride. No endless backtracking or cat and mouse headgames needed.
For instance, on a typical day when I use a Fantasyland start, doing all 8 attractions in around 90 minutes or less at a very comfortable, non-commando pace, I often snag a FP for Peter Pan's Flight when I am standing right next to the machine shortly after 9 in the morning. Simply because I am there and I want a guaranteed FP NIGHT RIDE on it when I am finished my first lap of the park and doing "encores" on favorites just before closing. Now, the FP says 10 AM - 11 AM, simply because that is the time available when I am next to the machine. Yet I have no desire to ride it between 10 and 11 AM, because in this example I've already ridden it once or twice the first hour with no wait, and by 10 and 11 I am eager to move on to new lands and adventures I haven't done yet that day.
But it makes logical sense to get the FP when I am right next to the machine, as it saves unnecessary backtracking to get one later, ensures I have one for the attraction, and puts the system to "work" for me at the earliest possible instance. Meaning I'll be able to maximize the FPs I can get for all the other attractions.
Yet I have never felt "entitled" or "guilty" about using this type of strategy, because I've been told 100 percent by everyone I've asked (including managers) that it wasn't "against the rules". Getting back to my time example, I would have been happy to tell the machine that I was REALLY seeking the FP for between 10-11
PM, to help it understand what the guest flow regarding me will be that day, but you can't do that. Which is a pity if they start limiting you to just one hour, and the hour you want isn't "taken" yet.
Ironically, when I use the PPF FPs that I got in the morning late at night, sometime between fireworks and park close, I am usually putting LESS of a strain on the system by "hoarding" the pass than I would had I rode "on time", because the standby line is usually shorter at this time than it is during my window, and the FP line is often nonexistent.
Another example is New Year's Eve. On the most crowded day of the year, when all the "experts" say to avoid the Magic Kingdom, I am consistently able to experience every attraction in the park, with multiples on faves, AND see the entire Christmas entertainment package, with multiples on things presented more than once. And then start the New Year off with a bang, first with the midnight fireworks, and then, with rides on favorite attractions. This would be extremely difficult if not impossible without FP and the ability to use them up until closing. Yet, this has worked perfectly for me on every NYE since 2006/2007, most recently, 2012.
Since this is usually my first visit to the Kingdom after arriving in FL for the winter, and the last day the MK presents their Christmas entertainment, the seasonal entertainment is high priority for me, yet I am also eager to ring in the New Year with favorite attractions.
To that end, I get there at rope drop and power ride from around 7 AM - 11:30 AM. Anything I don't get into that window, I make sure I get a FP for (if a FP attraction). The same with FP attractions I've ridden in that window that I know I might want an after-midnight "encore" on to ring in the new year, such as Space, Splash, Thunder, Pan, and Pooh.
By 11:30 AM it is time to get into position for the noon Christmas parade. This is a rare treat for me; my only day of the year to see this beloved favorite parade. So after I see it just as it steps off in Frontierland, I short cut thru Adventureland and the Emporium and get to the gate next to the Fire Station just as the parade is arriving. This whole process of getting a good spot at the beginning of the route and watching twice (which I repeat for the second running of the parade, at 3:30 PM) takes well over an hour, which would render any FP times during these windows completely useless to me in a system that would both a) enfore the one hour window, and b) not let me choose the later time I am getting the FP for in the first place.
Similarly, I see the Celebrate the Season castle show multiple times that day, as well as the one showing of Holiday Wishes, the Castle lighting show, the Tomorrowland Christmas show, the MSEP, and finally, the New Years Eve fireworks. Between all the entertainment and making sure I have a good spot for it, there are very few windows desirable for me to do attractions during the peak of the day when the park is at capacity. Yet, if I used the FPs in my pocket that I am saving for between midnight and 2 AM during this peak period of the most crowded day of the year (following the alledged "rules" because that's the time they say), in this example I would actually be putting MORE of a strain on the system because that is when the queues for these attractions (both standby and FP) are at their worse.
By deferring my ride to later, I look at it like a football coach winning the toss and "deferring" to get the ball in the second half rather than the first. In my case, "winning the toss" is the metaphorical equivalent of being next to the machines early enough to get a FP for each attraction I want to experience between midnight and 2 AM, and then deferring my ride until then - which means EVERY person who rides after my initial afternoon window on a busy day like that when the lines are constantly full, got on one person earlier because of my deferrment - until I show up after midnight and equalize the line by reclaiming my spot in it, with each person who rides after me getting on when they would have had I been "on time".
In fact, after midnight on NYE, I don't always even need all the FPs I've acquired earlier (such as Pooh the last hour, or Splash if it's chilly - but it's nice to know I have them
just in case).
And regarding the idea that you should be able to pick a later time that works better for you if they start enforcing the one hour window and take away the open-ended perfection that is the current system... I can already hear people saying (because some have already said it) that this is what x-pass will be for.
The thing is, this is expected to be just for resort guests, leaving locals and seasonal locals like me out of the loop. It may also be an extra charge.
But even if x-pass IS all-inclusive to everyone and no charge (both highly doubtful) - the buzz seems to be that you can get the FPs days or weeks in advance. Considering I don't even usually decide what park I'm visiting until the day of or night before, this doesn't exactly go with the flow of your day or the idea of spontanaiety the way being able to use a current FP ANYTIME between your first time and closing would. No need to make a reservation for when you
think you may want to ride when you already have one in your pocket good for anytime that day (after your first time!) Nor would it be as convenient for spontanaeity as simply being able to tell the FP machine at 10 in the morning that you are looking for a FP for 10 o'clock that night, if the hour limit is going to be enforced.
To sum up, I don't feel like I am "entitled" to anything, it's just that the current system works oh-so-PERFECTLY for me and how I tour the parks, and I will be very, very, sad and disappointed to see it go, if it indeed does. "If it ain't broke, don't 'fix' it!"
