FP Strictness

[hpyhnt 1000]

The biggest problem I have are those that "hover" at the FP entrance with 5 min. until their time (I'm sure elizs77 and CommandoDisney, don't) that block the way to the FP queue, showing their FP's while the CM repeats "not yet", thus not allowing us (who have FPs, soon to expire) to not get there in time. It's almost as bad as those who stop in the exit doorway of an attraction (blocking those behind them) to pull out their park map and discuss with their huddled mass, where they are going next. But that's another thread. :lol:

Oh, how true that is. Oddly enough, these are the same people that will come at 2:55 PM and ask the CM if they can get on, even though their FP CLEARLY SAYS "Return between 3:00 and 4:00 PM". The last time I checked, 2:55 was NOT 3:00. C'mon folks; stop bothering the CM and stop trying to "sneak" onto the attraction early. You know 3:00 is not the same as 2:55. Honestly, is it really so difficult to just patiently wait that extra 5 minutes?

As far as Fastpass procedure goes, I don't disagree with the idea of allowing people to enter even after their time has passed. We always make sure we plan it so that we return at the allotted time, but I really don't think it makes a big deal otherwise. Making sure people wait until it is the beginning of their time should be strictly enforced (and thankfully it is). But as long as the FP was from that day, in most cases*, let them come on late.

*I say "in most cases" because a FP for 10:30 AM should not be accepted for entry at 5:15 PM. Sorry, that's simply too big a difference. But something like a FP for 2:30, but you use it to get in at 4:00, that's fine.

 

[elizs77]

We've been told by CM's that it depends on the attraction, for the "late" times. If you arrive later than the time window on the pass for most attractions you will be let in. But for extremely popular attractions like Soarin', you won't be let in past the time window. That's what we have been told, and I never tried out the theory.

The two times I've been with FPs working was in the months of September and May, which are not the busiest times. If a CM hadn't told me that we could come in later, I wouldn't have even known to try. I've never, ever, ever had a problem coming in later, and if the ride we wanted to go on had an FP, we did it. But, it was still slow enough that they weren't even giving out FPs on some attractions, either. Like we didn't FP Buzz or Indiana Jones.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Once again, I say that we trained CMs to always allow people in late. Never early.

 

[Monty]

Using FPs late is accepted for the simple reason that you don't really control what time your window will be. It may coincide with your ADRs at a restaurant causing you to miss the window. It may be that while waiting, someone in your party got tired and wanted to return to the resort to rest or a tired child had a temper tantrum and it just wasn't viable to come back within the window. Rather than try to have an inquisition when people do return late, they just accept them.

If you're "hovering" in my way when I arrive to use my FPs, you better believe you will quickly know you're unnecessarily in my way! All that drill command training in my time in the military has its advantages... :drevil:

 

[elizs77]

Using FPs late is accepted for the simple reason that you don't really control what time your window will be. It may coincide with your ADRs at a restaurant causing you to miss the window. It may be that while waiting, someone in your party got tired and wanted to return to the resort to rest or a tired child had a temper tantrum and it just wasn't viable to come back within the window. Rather than try to have an inquisition when people do return late, they just accept them.

If you're "hovering" in my way when I arrive to use my FPs, you better believe you will quickly know you're unnecessarily in my way! All that drill command training in my time in the military has its advantages... :drevil:

Perfectly stated.

 

[kimmychad]

Once again, I say that we trained CMs to always allow people in late. Never early.

how is it better to let people in after their time as opposed to before their time?

 

[GenerationX]

On a day that Test Track was down for hours, the CM at the FP line told us we could use our FPs the next day. I thought that was a nice offer. Other than those situations, I wouldn't see a reason why FPs from a previous day would be accepted.

I like that CMs allow you in after the window on the same day. It helps enormously with itinerary planning.

 

[MrNonacho]

how is it better to let people in after their time as opposed to before their time?

It keeps things fair. If I get my Fastpass before you, I'd expect to be able to ride before you.

 

[Monty]

how is it better to let people in after their time as opposed to before their time?

As a guest, you can control arriving after your window starts every time but you can't always control arriving during your window [see my post above]. Disney wants you to respect what you can control and in return they respect what you can't.

 

[WDWTrojan]

During the initial debut of Fastpass we had people SCREAMING because they missed their time. I remember one lady at the Studios saying, "The line for Space Mountain said it would take 25 minutes but it took 45 and YOU made me miss my time!" So, it was a decision to be fair to the guests considering their days could get tied up, they could get stuck trying to get through a parade, etc.

 

[the-reason14]

Most CMs I came across on my past trip didnt check the dates at all. I know because I covered some of them. One lady checked at Soarin though. We had some passes for Space Mt. one day and it had broken down, I forget, but we either didnt stay at the MK long enough to see if it reopened that day, or we had gone to another park for emhs or something. Well the next day, or the day after the next day, we had arrived at the mk at the time when fastpasses for Space were gone, so we used the ones from the previous day and they let us right on. No problem from anyone there, I had asked the lady when it was broke, well what if we cant use the passes today, she said you could always get some more another time. That was true, but I still used the one I would have if it never broke down.

 

[Hakunamatata]

how is it better to let people in after their time as opposed to before their time?

I agree.....I think we should have to start making reservations 180 days in advance to ride an attraction like we do to make our ADRs, and if you miss the exact time that you are to ride, you have to make another 180 day ressie. Its only fair.....isnt it?:shrug:

 

[dxwwf3]

During the initial debut of Fastpass we had people SCREAMING because they missed their time. I remember one lady at the Studios saying, "The line for Space Mountain said it would take 25 minutes but it took 45 and YOU made me miss my time!" So, it was a decision to be fair to the guests considering their days could get tied up, they could get stuck trying to get through a parade, etc.

Exactly! And it makes perfect sense to allow for late arrivals. There are just too many variables that can make someone late. Or the day might take you in a different direction and you can save a lot of back tracking if you come a few hours late.

I agree.....I think we should have to start making reservations 180 days in advance to ride an attraction like we do to make our ADRs, and if you miss the exact time that you are to ride, you have to make another 180 day ressie. Its only fair.....isnt it?:shrug:

:lol:

 

[Dwarful]

I agree with others on two points:
1-use FP's from that day only. If you don't use it you lose it. Simple as that. It does not have financial value within the park so by not using it you are not out any money. You have the right to change your plans in order to use that pass or not use the pass..the choice is yours.

2-if your time has not yet arrived please stay clear of the FP Return area. Do not shout at those of us trying to use our FP's. Last summer we went with a large group (36 girl scouts/parents) and as we were trying to use our Peter Pan FP's some woman started shouting at us and actually grabbed the arm of one of 'my girls' in the troop. She kept screaming "It's NOT time..we have 6 more minutes!" over and over. The poor CM helped us get through once we explained we had 1 hour left on our FP time.

Oh one more thing, we had several first timers on that trip. On the first day I walked several adults through the entire FP process. Usually the 3 fastest in our group would take all tickets, get FP's and then meet our group and go to an attraction/movie/ride etc. Even getting 12 tickets at a time got some irate remarks. I would always say, this is going to take a few minutes because I am getting "12+" tickets. I wasn't cheating the system, every person in our group paid to enter the park and use the FP system. It was also much faster to have just a few of us get the FP's for everyone.

 

[WDWRLD]

I have tossed out many a expired FP.

 

[kimmychad]

I agree.....I think we should have to start making reservations 180 days in advance to ride an attraction like we do to make our ADRs, and if you miss the exact time that you are to ride, you have to make another 180 day ressie. Its only fair.....isnt it?:shrug:

since I'm a big fan of planning, this got a laugh out of me.:wave:

 

[Phonedave]

But what set me off was the abuse of the single rider line at TT. The abusers weren't even TRYING to hide being together and the CMs did nothing.

Were they seperated when they boarded the ride? There is no rule that says a group cannot get on the single rider line. It's just that when they board the ride there is a good chance of them being split into different seats or even different trains/elevators/cars whatever. I do this a lot if I am with other adult friends. We don't particulary care about riding next to each other, so we go single rider. We load wherever the CM tells us to.

As for FastPasses. My opinion. Before your return time - get turned away. After your return time, but same day - let them in. After the same day - take the FP and deny them access.

There are many many "fake" FP's for sale on eBay and other places. They are all expired FP's and the sellers state that the CM's will still take them. I know that for the unsuspecting person that buys them and then find out they are no good, it is a bummer, but letting it contine is not the answer.

I used to work in a grocery store way back in the stone age when people still used cash. If someone tried to pay with a counterfit bill, we confiscated it. It really did stink for the custome who was now out $20, but letting them use it or giving it back to them is not the answer either. Same thing goes for trying to use old FP's, even if you paid $50 for them on eBay.

-dave

 

[GenerationX]

I have tossed out many a expired FP.

Tossed out?? You mean you don't display them on your office wall next to your WDW Key to the World cards and prized Disney pins? :lookaroun

 

[luckyeye13]

But for extremely popular attractions like Soarin', you won't be let in past the time window.

Absolutely not true! As a Cast Member who has worked at FastPass attractions before and was trained to let in Guests whose passes were either current or past (but not early!) on the same day and as a Guest who has been allowed in late (again, on the same day) every time that I have tried, I can certainly say that the standard is to let in anyone with a FastPass that has at least started already. If you encounter any difficulties with this, do not hesitate to ask for a higher up Cast Member.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Absolutely not true! As a Cast Member who has worked at FastPass attractions before and was trained to let in Guests whose passes were either current or past (but not early!) on the same day and as a Guest who has been allowed in late (again, on the same day) every time that I have tried, I can certainly say that the standard is to let in anyone with a FastPass that has at least started already. If you encounter any difficulties with this, do not hesitate to ask for a higher up Cast Member.

Agreed, as I said earlier in the post, as an attractions cast member and operations manager, I can certainly tell you that cast members are trained to allow people in past the return time. If somebody gives you a hard time, ask to see a manager -- they should not be doing that.