Disney Scanning Fastpasses

[fngoofy]

God I don't. Its already bad enough having to plan where and when you plan on eating months in advance, the last thing I want to do is have to plan out my ride choices and times. The best thing about the parks used to be the taking your time and enjoying them. With the advent of fastpass and the like it feels far more like I'm having my entire day scheduled for me ahead of time, and if I don't want to take part in it, I'm going to have my visit drastically hampered by longer standby lines everywhere.

They still have the standby queues.

I started going to WDW in 1977 and remember taking a day to do 1 or 2 lands in MK. Once EPCOT opened and volume picked up it became a pain to spend an hour or two in every flipping line.

Without FP you would be looking at every e-tic having an outrageous wait.
Imagine hitting only 5 attractions in an entire day.

You still get hour lee-ways with FP, if you knew you would be in MK on a day, why wouldn't you plan out attractions for a certain land so that you knew you would be able to ride before lunch (which you also scheduled a year out) :animwink:

 

[KingdomHeart]

Imagine hitting only 5 attractions in an entire day.

You mean an average day in peak season?
:ROFLOL:

 

[mpaul32001]

You make it sound like people had inch or two thick stacks of fastpasses and readmits in their pockets...... :lookaroun

Actually, you wouldn't be surprised...My friend did it, and I'm not saying I thought it was right, but he took advantage of it.

 

[Figment632]

I think you should get two hours at the most after your time has expired. This is more than enough time toallow for getting stuck on a ride or seated late. I don't care what the excuse is after two hours you should be turned away! If people are to dumb to manage time and utilize FP correctly that is their problem, the rest of us shouldn't have to suffer!!!!

What attraction do you feel FP causes the most problems? I think by far it is Soarin, I don't think I've ever waited less than 30 min in the FP line unless it is the first thing you FP in the morning!

 

[KingdomHeart]

I think you should get two hours at the most after your time has expired. This is more than enough time toallow for getting stuck on a ride or seated late. I don't care what the excuse is after two hours you should be turned away! If people are to dumb to manage time and utilize FP correctly that is their problem, the rest of us shouldn't have to suffer!!!!

What attraction do you feel FP causes the most problems? I think by far it is Soarin, I don't think I've ever waited less than 30 min in the FP line unless it is the first thing you FP in the morning!

I totally agree - like I said, some people just abuse it.
And prob Soarin' or Peter Pan's Flight. They get annoying. I think Fastpasses who load further back and then still have a ton of walking are a problem - like Splash Moutain is fine - merge point is right up there - but I dislike Rockin' Roller Coaster's way. I wind up waiting a good long while even with a fastpass!
-Nicholas

 

[epcotWSC]

They should just make a card that people get with their tickets. You put the card in the FP machine, it puts data on the card that says this ride for this time. Then when you go to use your FP you have to scan it through a machine and it reads to see if your FP is valid. If it's valid you go through and the machine erases the data from your card and spits it back out. If it's not valid then you can't go through. Kind of like when you go into the park.

I doubt it would be that expensive to make a card with a small amount of memory to do that function.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I think you should get two hours at the most after your time has expired. This is more than enough time toallow for getting stuck on a ride or seated late. I don't care what the excuse is after two hours you should be turned away! If people are to dumb to manage time and utilize FP correctly that is their problem, the rest of us shouldn't have to suffer!!!!

What attraction do you feel FP causes the most problems? I think by far it is Soarin, I don't think I've ever waited less than 30 min in the FP line unless it is the first thing you FP in the morning!

You should not get more than what the FP has stated. If you need to return between 12:00 and 1:00 and you arrive at 1:01 then your FP has expired. If you are stuck in a queue for another ride or decided to have desert after dinner and it made you late it shouldn't matter. The time window is there for a reason. If you cannot plan properly then that is poor planning. Now if you show up on time for your FP and you find this huge line (like was mentioned for TMRR) and +50% of the people in front have expired FP's from this morning and now you have to wait 30 minutes. You planned your time properly but all of these people did not. Is it right? Should all the people that show up to the FP line later be required to wait longer because of someone else thinking they should have their own special rules. What is the differance between being 2 hours late and three hours late? Is someone that is 2 hours late better and should get rewarded for not being 3 hours late? :shrug: I have some FP's from previous visits that I haven't used, should I be able to use them when I go back?

However the window maybe should be widened to maybe 3 hours? Or should FP's should have only arrival times posted and not have time expirations on return times? I do not know the answers, but I am sure Disney knows very well what the problems are. Those expiration time are designed to keep an even flow of guests until someone thinks they deserve special treatment.

 

[Einselen]

You should not get more than what the FP has stated. If you need to return between 12:00 and 1:00 and you arrive at 1:01 then your FP has expired. If you are stuck in a queue for another ride or decided to have desert after dinner and it made you late it shouldn't matter. The time window is there for a reason. If you cannot plan properly then that is poor planning. Now if you show up on time for your FP and you find this huge line (like was mentioned for TMRR) and +50% of the people in front have expired FP's from this morning and now you have to wait 30 minutes. You planned your time properly but all of these people did not. Is it right? Should all the people that show up to the FP line later be required to wait longer because of someone else thinking they should have their own special rules. What is the differance between being 2 hours late and three hours late? Is someone that is 2 hours late better and should get rewarded for not being 3 hours late? :shrug: I have some FP's from previous visits that I haven't used, should I be able to use them when I go back?

However the window maybe should be widened to maybe 3 hours? Or should FP's should have only arrival times posted and not have time expirations on return times? I do not know the answers, but I am sure Disney knows very well what the problems are. Those expiration time are designed to keep an even flow of guests until someone thinks they deserve special treatment.

Always the fun debate of expired FP. First I think the number of expired FP use is a lot lower then what people here think (well those who argue you got 1 hr and tough cookies). Second there needs to be some leeway. You can not help having a slow server or backed up kitchen. If you know your ADR is at Noon and the return window is 11:30-12:30 then yes don't get a FP (which I am sure many people follow as again they don't know the end time is not really enforced) but if you do plan right and the server is slow, kitchen is backed up (which is easily possible, one of the grills or stove goes out) it is not your fault that you get there a minute late. Also remember a lot of people traveling Disney have kids, kids might puke, need to use the restroom, etc. You can tell them to go potty before hand since you need to make the FP return time but if I kid can't go then but has to go later that is something you can't really control.

I admit I am an "abuser" of the end time, however I don't get an early FP and come back at night. I will be somewhat close to the time, but I don't see myself busting my butt to get across the park just because a ride said it was a 20 min wait and turned out to be 40 instead.

 

[Einselen]

However the window maybe should be widened to maybe 3 hours? Or should FP's should have only arrival times posted and not have time expirations on return times? I do not know the answers, but I am sure Disney knows very well what the problems are. Those expiration time are designed to keep an even flow of guests until someone thinks they deserve special treatment.

The thing is with the window being 3 hrs it is harder to track and control. For example the parade at MK ends at 3:20-3:30 around the hub. During that time SM, Buzz Lightyear, etc. give out less FP during that time period. If three hours that is a huge window which is harder to plan around.

As far as not putting on expiry time then everyone will know they can come back whenever and that will screw up the entire system. I am sure Disney knows just about on average how many people return during the window, how many don't return at all and how many return after.

The expiry leeway (again not saying I agree pick up FP early morning come back hours later at park closing and use it, maybe there should be a limited window (but then the CM will be constantly checking their watches to see if 3 hours passed, etc.)) is because Disney knows things happen. You know the return time for Blockbuster at 12 Noon (I think most stores are on this time now) is actually false. You have a few hour leeway (as well as the workers) to get the movie in because things happen. Best part of that job is people running in at 12:05 saying they are sorry, they got in the car but then there was a train going across the tracks and so they were late. Also when people came in and swore they returned it at Noon as they have to be at work at 8 AM and we have it checked it at 6 PM we still took care of the Extended Viewing Fees (which is no more)

 

[RSoxNo1]

We used a Tower of Terror fastpass several hours past it's time, and have been outside of the window several times. I think Disney would here too many complaints if people weren't allowed to go after their window.

 

[NX2I85]

It sounds like I'm one of those guests that tick some of you off. :wave: It is my strategy to accumulate FPs all day and then use them in the evening. I usualy have a fat pocket full because I'm toting them for a family of four. :drevil:

My understanding is that Disney doesn't mind one bit if you use an expired FP (from the same day, of course). What? They want me to stop spending money on ice cream and silly hats so I can go ride Pooh at the precise moment printed on the paper? Please... I think Disney is just fine with our little unspoken arrangement.

I doubt whatever they're doing in scanning the FPs will change that.

 

[Philo]

It sounds like I'm one of those guests that tick some of you off. :wave: It is my strategy to accumulate FPs all day and then use them in the evening. I usualy have a fat pocket full because I'm toting them for a family of four. :drevil:

My understanding is that Disney doesn't mind one bit if you use an expired FP (from the same day, of course). What? They want me to stop spending money on ice cream and silly hats so I can go ride Pooh at the precise moment printed on the paper? Please... I think Disney is just fine with our little unspoken arrangement.

I doubt whatever they're doing in scanning the FPs will change that.

The problem with this is that it messes up the FP system. Disney (I hope) have done lot's of calculations based on how many FP's they can give out in a given time to keep the queue system effective. By storing them you are basically messing up the system. In your case it's only 4 people but if too many people do it.....

The thing that really annoys me about this though is that there are plenty of people who don't get to spend the whole day in the park. If you pick up a FP you don't intend to us till later, you might be denying a person a chance to ride at all.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The problem with this is that it messes up the FP system. Disney (I hope) have done lot's of calculations based on how many FP's they can give out in a given time to keep the queue system effective. By storing them you are basically messing up the system. In your case it's only 4 people but if too many people do it.....

The thing that really annoys me about this though is that there are plenty of people who don't get to spend the whole day in the park. If you pick up a FP you don't intend to us till later, you might be denying a person a chance to ride at all.

I'm not sure that's a fair argument. I don't see anything wrong with this. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney gives away more fastpasses for the morning hours than they do the evening hours too, it would make sense for them to do that for this reason.

 

[captainkidd]

I agree, it screws the FP system up. If everyone did that, there would be longer waits in the fastpass lines at certain times, and attractions would run out. Trying to justify using the system your own way because you spend money on ice cream is a really weak excuse. What makes you think everyone doesn't do the same thing? There's no point in arguing this fact. People sell fastpasses on ebay for their own financial gain. There's no talking to people. They'll do whatever they want, when they want. It's a shame. As long as they feel they won't get caught, people will do whatever they damn well please.

Not trying to sound like a goodie too shoes, but if everyone just stopped trying to scam the system and played by the rules, things would work a lot smoother for everyone.

Sadly, many people only care about themsleves and feel as though rules don't apply to them.

 

[captainkidd]

I'm not sure that's a fair argument. I don't see anything wrong with this. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney gives away more fastpasses for the morning hours than they do the evening hours too, it would make sense for them to do that for this reason.

The fact is, this isn't the way FP is supposed to work. If everyone did this, it would make fastpass useless.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you cannot plan properly then that is poor planning. ... However the window maybe should be widened to maybe 3 hours? Or should FP's should have only arrival times posted and not have time expirations on return times?

Disney's guest services playbook is in direct conflict with what you want, though. Boiled down to its essence, it says "never say no to a guest's request unless you have to."

We can argue about whether or not that's what the philosophy should be, but that's what it is. So, the chances that the de facto policy will change any time soon seem low indeed.

But, the reason it works out is that most people have no idea that they can be late---and that's why the other two ideas won't happen either. By providing a one hour window, most guests return within that hour period. What's more, many guests who miss their hour will assume their fastpass is no good. That's what makes it possible to accept those who do come late---there simply aren't very many of them.

That's also why I think they are scanning FPs---to get a sense for the "late return rate" in addition to all of the other data collection one might do. If the late return rate goes high enough, then and only then will Disney re-think the current policy of not enforcing the window's end time, because that's when things will start to go south in terms of FP return waits.

It's worth noting, though, that if this happens, it will probably happen at Disneyland before WDW. DLR has a much larger share of frequent, local visitors. Those folks take the "no closing window time" policy as a matter of fact, and there are a lot of them. Yet, as far as DLR Operations is concerned, it's not a problem. WDW's tourist-heavy guest count has a much smaller share of "those in the know."

 

[PhilharMagician]

Disney's guest services playbook is in direct conflict with what you want, though. Boiled down to its essence, it says "never say no to a guest's request unless you have to."

We can argue about whether or not that's what the philosophy should be, but that's what it is. So, the chances that the de facto policy will change any time soon seem low indeed.

But, the reason it works out is that most people have no idea that they can be late---and that's why the other two ideas won't happen either. By providing a one hour window, most guests return within that hour period. What's more, many guests who miss their hour will assume their fastpass is no good. That's what makes it possible to accept those who do come late---there simply aren't very many of them.

That's also why I think they are scanning FPs---to get a sense for the "late return rate" in addition to all of the other data collection one might do. If the late return rate goes high enough, then and only then will Disney re-think the current policy of not enforcing the window's end time, because that's when things will start to go south in terms of FP return waits.

It's worth noting, though, that if this happens, it will probably happen at Disneyland before WDW. DLR has a much larger share of frequent, local visitors. Those folks take the "no closing window time" policy as a matter of fact, and there are a lot of them. Yet, as far as DLR Operations is concerned, it's not a problem. WDW's tourist-heavy guest count has a much smaller share of "those in the know."

Point understood, but where is the line in the sand? A FP says I can use the FP lane between certain times. This is a simple fact. Apparently some people think that the end time and only the the end time on the FP should be adjusted to there liking when ever they want to make it convenient for them and screw others. Well, then if I get a FP and walk up to a ride one hour early then I should be able to ride! If the CM says no I just tell them that it is my rule and they have agree with it because I am right! Also the millions of dollars that WDC has put into the FP system was a waste because I know better than Imagineers that designed it on how it works.:hammer:

I know nothing about the complicated scheduling and inner workings of the FP system, but everything has rules and rules are for a reason. Rules keep systems operating inside it's boundries. Without rules the systems will run a muck and I think all of have seen that at one time or another.

 

[captainkidd]

I know nothing about the complicated scheduling and inner workings of the FP system, but everything has rules and rules are for a reason. Rules keep systems operating inside it's boundries. Without rules the systems will run a muck and I think all of have seen that at one time or another.

Exactly.

 

[Brian Noble]

Apparently some people think that the end time and only the the end time on the FP should be adjusted to there liking when ever they want to make it convenient for them and screw others.

You are missing the important point. Right now, the people who have decided that the end window time isn't important to enforce are the folks in Park Ops. Disney has made this decision, not individual guests. Disney has also decided that the opening time *is* important to enforce.

You can argue whether or not they should decide to do these things. But the fact is that that is what they've decided to do. And, because of the culture of the parks, that decision is unlikely to change until and unless so many people take advantage of it that it causes other problems elsewhere in the Fastpass system. Disney's current position is that such problems are not occuring---even at Disneyland, where a much larger fraction of the day's guests know, for a fact, that the end time doesn't matter one whit.

So, you can complain about it (to no effect) and follow the policy that you wish Disney implemented, or you can follow the policy Disney actually has implemented. It's up to you.

 

[SirGoofy]

Everyone complains that people coming back late backs up both lines, which believe me isn't true. The percentage of late FPs in the line is incredibly small compared to the on time ones. And as long as the CM at the merge position is doing their job correctly, there should be no back up in either line.