I worked one of the most psychotic FP attractions on property, and, at least there, it would not lower the wait times at the end of the night. And our leadership is not stupid, they do the required research and the reason we can accept FPs after the time limit is because that doesn't make a difference. What makes a difference is letting them in early. And at night, we're not getting many FPs coming back late (or at all).
Thanks for the info! Ironically, most of the times I use one late it IS late at night, when I always felt I wasn't hurting anyone for doing so.
For instance, if I start my day in my favorite section, Fantasyland, I like to be immersed in that magical world and do every attraction in that land. So I don't worry about leaving Fantasyland while doing those attractions to get my first Space Mountain Fast Pass of the day, as that would be out of the way and require backtracking, so I wait until I actually tour Tomorrowland to get that FP.
Since I am starting my day in Fantasyland, I don't need FPs for Pan and Pooh during my morning tour of FL. I also know that I like to do encores in Fantasyland during the Magical feeling of nightime! This is especially the case on those nice, long, operating days when the park stays open AFTER the fireworks until 11 PM or midnight, because the longer hours make me more likely to finish everything else I want to do once, and have time for "encores" on favorites! So, knowing there's a darn good chance I'll want to hop on Peter Pan's Flight when I'm ending my evening in my favorite section, after the fireworks, it ONLY MAKES SENSE to run my AP ticket through the FP machine in the morning, when I'm right next to it, so that when I want that ride later, I can get it.
Considering at that time of the day, the return time is for like 10 AM or 10:30 AM, this means by the time I get to Tomorrowland (usually after 10:30 AM) to get that Space Mountain FP, the Peter Pan one is not causing me to have to wait any extra time to get the Space Fastpass. So I am simply putting the system to work for me at the earliest possible time upon entering the park, without going out of my way to do so.
Some people on a fanboard will complain about my being "late", but no one who actually WORKS at the parks has ever actually had an issue with me over this. I would have never had the audacity to feel comfortable doing this, had I not been told by SEVERAL CMs and MANAGERS that it was OK! If I had 10 bucks for everytime I've been told "They are good between your first time and park closing", I could buy next year's pass with that money!
In the Peter Pan case I've just described, had I used the FP during the return window, I'd be riding after the queue has really started to fill up, and I'd be making those people wait one person longer.
By using it "late", late at night after the fireworks, (and incuring the wrath of some forum members, but no one who actually works at the parks!), every single person who rode the ride that day up until around 10:30 PM to 11:30 PM got on one person quicker because I was "late".
Even the people riding the last hour or two when I use my "late" FP are not advesresly affected, because by using it when I do I am simply reclaiming my place in the queue, and they get on at the EXACT time they would have had I been "on time" hours and hours ago.
And when I use this FP "late" there never seems to be anyone using FP AT ALL (considering how so many people leave after the fireworks), so IMO, I am actually putting LESS of a burden on the system then if I had used it "on time", or used it earlier in the day closer to my "time", when more people or returning with FPs (such as after the 3 o' clock parade which sometimes steps off at 2:59:59 or 3:00:01)
Meanwhile, by aquiring the pass when I do, I have the "security" of knowing that if the standby is still 10 or 15 minutes (or more), when I want to ride Peter Pan again, I have a FP in my pocket that will get me a walk-on late at night, which can make the difference of whether or not I also have time to get an "encore" ride on Pooh, or Dumbo, or Snow White, or the Carousel, or Small World, etc.
So I get my ride, and most people who ride that day get on one person earlier, because I was "late"! And besides, if I really want the FP for late at night, but am next to the machine in the morning, it's not like I can tell the machine what time I want. And having to keep checking back at the machine all day for when it is giving 10:30-11:30
PM would be ridiculous, time consuming, and put me at risk of not being able to get a Fastpass for Peter Pan at all!
I would like to DEEPLY AND SINCERLY THANK Mansion Butler, an actual Cast Member, for setting the record straight that I am not hurting anyone at all when I return past my "window" late at night when no one is hardly using FPs anyway, which actually is the case for the vast majority of the FPs I use "late". This actually corresponds with everything I've been told by CMs and managers in the parks, and is why I've never felt guilty about doing this!
Thanks again, Mansion Butler, for your insightful post!
PS. I have NEVER, EVER, tried to use one early, and NEVER, EVER, yelled at a CM. I just quietly go about my business enjoying the parks! So I'm not one of the "bad eggs" that give you guys trouble! I'm sorry that some people put you through that! I appreciate all your hard work to make the Magic happen for us guests!
