Fastpass Question...

[ShatteredByLoss]

Hello Everyone,

I was curious about fastpass return times..

In our previous visits we have always gone back during whatever 'window' we were supposed to return in. Sometimes, having wandered a good distance away, even scooting back to the other side of the park to get on a particular ride in 'time' for the fastpass not to expire. Which, is a bit of a hassle. (Okay, more than a bit, it was like a mad dash for the last cookie on the plate.. )

I have heard (incomming rumor... ) that the CM's will accept fastpasses after they have 'expired'. Is this true? Has anyone actually been turned away if they have come 'after' their fastpass time?

I know you can pick up a new fastpass a couple hours after (or after the time on the first fastpass has started) so getting new ones isn't the issue, using the old ones, is what I am curious about.

We are heading for a trip in October and knowing my family and their tendancy to wander parks, it would be a great bonus to us to be able to wander back in the direction of a particular ride even after our allocated time.

Thanks in advance for all the help and tips...

- Loss

 

[bsiev1977]

I would imagine that some CMs are more leniant then others about FP entry times. I'm had some that let me in early, and some that made me wait until the ticket time came around.

Other than that, maybe just try to be a little more aware of where you are at times when your FP time is coming up. I know it takes away a bit of the spontenaity(sp?), but it would save you having to rush. Like if you have a FP to Soarin at 6:30-7:30, don't be sitting in the American Adventure at 7:15.

Believe me, I sympathize with situation. Many a time I've had to run across the park to get somewhere at a certain time. I've just made sure in more recent trips to be conscious of time in these cases. Like setting my cell phone alarm to ring 30 minutes before I have to be at a particular place.

 

[ShatteredByLoss]

What a great idea, about setting my alarm clock on my phone...

Though you know.. when you said that.. my first thought was.. "Is there an app for that?" :ROFLOL:

I will definitely use that idea though, I am sure it'll help a lot to keep us on the right track..

thanks again!

- Loss

 

[David S.]

Hello Everyone,

I was curious about fastpass return times..

In our previous visits we have always gone back during whatever 'window' we were supposed to return in. Sometimes, having wandered a good distance away, even scooting back to the other side of the park to get on a particular ride in 'time' for the fastpass not to expire. Which, is a bit of a hassle. (Okay, more than a bit, it was like a mad dash for the last cookie on the plate.. )

I have heard (incomming rumor... ) that the CM's will accept fastpasses after they have 'expired'. Is this true? Has anyone actually been turned away if they have come 'after' their fastpass time?

I know you can pick up a new fastpass a couple hours after (or after the time on the first fastpass has started) so getting new ones isn't the issue, using the old ones, is what I am curious about.

We are heading for a trip in October and knowing my family and their tendancy to wander parks, it would be a great bonus to us to be able to wander back in the direction of a particular ride even after our allocated time.

Thanks in advance for all the help and tips...

- Loss

I have a 100 percent success rate using them "late", on the same date printed on the ticket!

The only times it ALMOST didn't work was when someone on the college program on their first day on the job didn't realize they were supposed to let me in "late", but their coworker did. Another time on Peter Pan's Flight, I tried using an 11 AM pass at around 10:30 PM, and at first the girl wouldn't accept it... because she thought it said PM and thought I was a half hour early! When I pointed out that my first time was AM, I got in with no problem!

For what it's worth, I've been told by every CM I've asked, and even a few MANAGERS (every MANAGER I've asked), that they can be used anytime on the date printed on the ticket, as long as it's after the first time.

Even the stormtroopers in this video (from a Star Wars Weekend show) say it's OK! (the FP references are between the 1:55 and 2:30 mark)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C1KJS3aOtQ

So there is really no need to kill the spontaneity of your day by needlessly backtracking all the way across the park. I agree with you that that would be a hassle. The idea that FP takes away from spontaneity quickly disappears when you realize that the FPs you collect on any given date can be used in any order you want (as long as it's after the first time) to get a walk-on on those attractions whenever you are ready to ride them! So if it's not convenient to use it during that hour window, I personally feel ZERO obligation to do so, considering what I've actually been told by CMs and MANAGERS, as well as my own observations and experience of how the system actually works.


Still, other people on here will point out that Disney could theoretically choose to change this policy at some point (and that is a good point), so it wouldn't hurt to ask when you get there if they can still be used after the second time "expires". I don't think you'll have any problems, though. There's such a culture of tolerance and leniency regarding so-called "late" FPs, that even if a CM tried to turn you away (like if it was a pet peeve or something, or if they were misinformed) you could just find another nearby CM, or in the worst case scenario, ask to speak to their "coordinator", and tell them other CMs had told you that you WERE allowed to come anytime that day after the first time, and they will let you in!

Have a good trip! I'm from Louisiana, too! (N.O.)

PS. My reply here is NOT an attempt to start a debate with others on this board who dislike the practice of using FPs "late", and is not intended to upset them. I am only responding to answer the Original Poster's question in an attempt to be helpful, based on my understanding of the "rules" regarding "late" FPs as they have been explained to me by CMs and managers. Since the first day I ever used a FP, and I asked "What happens if I'm late?", I was told "Nothing, they are good all day!"

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

The "Return By" window is exactly what it says - time to return. The late admission beyond the Return By window is entirely at the discretion of the CM, although most will allow you in

 

[David S.]

I've been told they are actually instructed to let you in, and my experience of several successful entries with no issues seems to support this! When MANAGERS tell me it's OK to use it anytime after the first time, it seems that they wouldn't tell me this if it was up to the mere "discretion" or whim of a front-line CM. Also, I doubt the stormtroopers in the "Stars of the Saga" show would be saying you could use them "late", if that wasn't the case!

 

[CaptainWinter]

I have a 100 percent success rate using them "late", on the same date printed on the ticket!

Same here.

 

[puntagordabob]

Disney's official (not publicized to the public) policy is to let you in anytime after the window begins up until the attraction closes for the day. The big "NO-NO" is absolutely no early entry...whether a CM on occassion lets someone slide on by early is up to them, but it could cost them if they are snared by someone I imagine. This has been told to me by multiple CMs, managers, and Execs over the years the answer is always the same.

 

[durangojim]

Don't worry about the return time if you can't make it back by then. (Shh, I'll you a secret, make sure no one's listening. OK on our last day at MK of many trips that we have gone on, I get FP's for us during the day for Peter Pan, so that my kids can ride it at night, usually as one of the last rides we go on. We're always past the entry window and have never had problems). A lot of people will make a big deal out of it and say it's not fair, but as far as I'm concerned, Disney chooses not to enforce this, so I don't sweat it.

 

[bsiev1977]

Also, to help you keep track, touringplans.com has an app out called Lines. It lists wait times at all the attractions in all four parks, as well as what the FP distribution time is.

For example, right now at 10:18am Eastern, it lists Toy Story Mania as having a 48 minute wait, with FP being distributed for 3:45pm.

 

[bigorangeandy]

I've never had any problems with showing up past the time on the fast pass, we usually try to get in the window, but don't always make it. Some rides are closed due to problems (weather and or mechanical) and you can not use it at the time window, so they will accept it later.

 

[stlbobby]

I was at WDW less than a month after Fastpass was implemented, and a low level manager told me the return times were only a guide and on the ticket to keep guests from trying ridiculous things like trying to use them days later. The policy has always been to let anyone in late, but never early.

They do this so people do not have to rush through dinner plans or trek back across the park just to make an arbitrary Fastpass time.

 

[mp2bill]

I, too, have never had a problem using a FP any time after the earliest time on the ticket on that day.