New fast pass rule not being strictly enforced

[disney206313]

I just got back from my trip, and I three times I arrived after my fast pass time, and never was I rejected from the attraction. The first two times were for Splash and Star Tours. I was 10 and 15 minutes late for the time respectively. The CM at the front of the fast pass line didn't give the time a second look and let us right through. However, when I showed up an hour late for my space mountain fast pass, and I explained that I had gotten stuck on Splash mountain (true) the guy at the front wrote us a note and let us use the fast pass line.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

The rule allows people to enter 5 minutes early and up to 15 minutes late. Since you seem to have gotten there no more than 15 minutes late they were still following the rules. When you were an hour late they seemed to have made an exception which they are also allowed to do on a case by case basis.

 

[CaptainEO95]

The rule allows people to enter 5 minutes early and up to 15 minutes late. Since you seem to have gotten there no more than 15 minutes late they were still following the rules. When you were an hour late they seemed to have made an exception which they are also allowed to do on a case by case basis.

5 minutes early! CMs never let me on until the exact mili-second.

 

[Thunder Fan]

The no early entrance was being enforced while we were there too.

 

[Kobe!!]

The one time, a CM counted down the seconds in front of me before I could use my Fast Pass.. not sure if it was funny or insulting. :shrug:

 

[Pioneer Hall]

5 minutes early! CMs never let me on until the exact mili-second.

That is what was posted when they implemented the enforcement a month or so ago. I haven't been there to test it myself, so maybe someone here can offer some insight on if this is now the case.

 

[Kamikaze]

The rule allows people to enter 5 minutes early and up to 15 minutes late. Since you seem to have gotten there no more than 15 minutes late they were still following the rules. When you were an hour late they seemed to have made an exception which they are also allowed to do on a case by case basis.

Oh, they will make an exception on EVERY case if you complain enough.

 

[draybook]

Yeah, my wife overheard/saw someone being stopped 4 minutes before their FP was ready. I wasn't there to tell the CM of the new policy.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

How strictly the new rules are being enforced depends greatly on the CM assigned to fastpass greeter at that particular moment.

 

[Tom Morrow]

"five minutes early no matter what" is false. It is at the discretion of the CM, taking into account how many people are already in the FP line, the standby wait, etc. It will be this way until otherwise instructed.

Oh, they will make an exception on EVERY case if you complain enough.

Or you could just, you know, show up when you were supposed to.

Its one thing to have a legitimate excuse. Its another to complain just to see if you can get something (which I think some passholders have made some sort of twisted game out of)

 

[Polydweller]

A fairly senior CM who posts on a different board that they are rigidly enforcing the rules. He says there are a very few extraordinary circumstances like a ride down in which they can make an exception. But the CMs can verify these and do. Complaining, even to a manager is not changing the rules. You're late then you're late.

 

[menamechris]

I thought about testing this out last weekend when my lunch ran late, but then decided it wasn't worth it. Even if one or two cast members let you through, you will always have that CM who enjoys the power to turn you away. If Disney finds it necessary to implement all these rules, I would like to see some positive results soon (not waiting 20 minutes in the FP line for Space Mountain, while standby walked on...)

 

[Captain Chaos]

Oh, they will make an exception on EVERY case if you complain enough.

Not true... i was reading another site and a CM there said a female college program CM refused to let a woman through FP despite the woman putting up a stink... The woman was claiming she ALWAYS was allowed to hoard fast passes and use them at the end of the night... The CM refused to let her in... The woman then said the CM needs to make an exception for her since she is a regular WDW visitor... Still refused to let her in... Woman continued to make a huge stink and was STILL denied... So, no, they will not make an exception on EVERY case as you so claim...

 

[rct247]

Oh, they will make an exception on EVERY case if you complain enough.

Just make sure your story is good. I've heard quite a few and they'll bring a manager out, but not every case, even if they are 100% true will get you an exception.

One case, there was a family with a small emergency that required them to go back to their hotel. As a result, they missed their Fastpass time. Through their story they mentioned vaguly that they got back to the park just a couple hours later than their Fastpass, but rather than go immediately to it, they waited until the very end of the day to use it like they usually do. Final result was no admittance.

Another was dinner reservations at some restaurant at 4pm. Turns out the restaurant doesn't have reservations during that time. No admittance.

Moral, if they catch you in a lie, find inconsistencies to your story, or you abuse the late rule to an extreme they will still deny you. If you are late, you should still show up as soon as you can. Other cases I have seen managers give in slightly by writing them out a Fastpass to return but based on the current wait time allowing them to have a new Fastpass and allowing them to go do something else, but they still have to wait some time. Oh, and if you knew you had a reservation during the current distribution time, then don't get a Fastpass at that time. If you knew you wouldn't be able to make it, then they don't have to honor it being late either.

The 5 minute rule is a the discretion of the cast member based on current operations.

 

[wdwmagic]

Just make sure your story is good. I've heard quite a few and they'll bring a manager out, but not every case, even if they are 100% true will get you an exception.

One case, there was a family with a small emergency that required them to go back to their hotel. As a result, they missed their Fastpass time. Through their story they mentioned vaguly that they got back to the park just a couple hours later than their Fastpass, but rather than go immediately to it, they waited until the very end of the day to use it like they usually do. Final result was no admittance.

Another was dinner reservations at some restaurant at 4pm. Turns out the restaurant doesn't have reservations during that time. No admittance.

Moral, if they catch you in a lie, find inconsistencies to your story, or you abuse the late rule to an extreme they will still deny you. If you are late, you should still show up as soon as you can. Other cases I have seen managers give in slightly by writing them out a Fastpass to return but based on the current wait time allowing them to have a new Fastpass and allowing them to go do something else, but they still have to wait some time. Oh, and if you knew you had a reservation during the current distribution time, then don't get a Fastpass at that time. If you knew you wouldn't be able to make it, then they don't have to honor it being late either.

The 5 minute rule is a the discretion of the cast member based on current operations.

LOL some of these accounts sound like an encounter with the TSA or immigration officers at an airport!

 

[yellowb]

When we were there two weeks ago, I only had one instance where I showed up early, and I was just standing next to the entrance. The CM asked what time the FP was for and I said 5 minutes to go, and he let me through. I guess it's just hit and miss.