FastPass Times Enforced coming?? About This Page:

[GATechGal]

Well I think it's a total bummer. We would routinly collect FPs in the morning and use them in the afternoon after the crowds let up. It kept us out of the queue when most folks were in line and allowed us quick access when the lines were less. It's going to be very interesting on how to tour now that you're having to criss-cross to meet FP times. And getting back to the front of Main Street to meet Mickey and the Princesses is a LONG walk from say Fantasyland or (horrors) Frontierland. It's going to increase the use of the train for sure. Does anyone know if the old Toontown station will still be in use once that area opens up?

[Teresa]

I hope it's true!
The fastpasses are supposed to help control the flow of "traffic" through an attraction, cutting down on lines. If they give out, say 100 for the 12:00 to 1:00 hour, they know there are going to be 100 come through. Unless the 100 from the 11:00 to 12:00 time also show up, meaning it's double the people. Yes, one family coming late doesn't make a difference. Multiple families consistently doing it makes a huge diff.
Honestly - it gives a return time and to me, it should be followed. If you returned to the attraction at the early time and were told "You know, we've decided to allow people in when we want - we're not really paying attention to the times stated, You'll have to come back later." you'd flip out! To me, it's the same thing when you get a FP for an attraction and then leisurely come to redeem it at your convenience.

[unewillow]

If the return time window was bigger, it would be less of a blow. Before I knew you could come back after the printed time, I would often NOT get a FP to an attraction because the return time was when I had an ADR. I wouldn't think that the number of people who go through the FP line at later times would make that big of a difference in the FP lines in general, but I guess this is mostly do to to new FP system.

[trixiedixie]

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

This is terrible for us. We have access to a GAC for our daughter but we prefer to use and collect fastpasses. I guess we are some of the reason that WDW is changing the system...we would collect passes in the morning hours while we took advantage of short lines. Sometimes we would leave the park for an afternoon break and use our fastpasses in the evenings.



I could imagine restaurants who are running behind would face the wrath of guests with non-negotiable return times...

We have always done it this way too.... oh boy I hope they change it back before May LOL

[Carousel96]

I feel bad for the folks who get stuck because of delayed meals.
But in general, I don't see a problem with it.
The whole purpose of the FP is to spread demand over time -- if everyone comes back whenever they want, the FP doesn't work as planned. What if everyone with a FP for anytime in the day comes back at 7 p.m. Where is the benefit for the person with the printed 7 p.m. return time?
If people are taking Fast Passes because they're there, knowing full well they can't (and don't plan to) be back at the posted window, they're misusing hte system.

[shnewell]

We typically do return within the window, but I did like the flexibility of being able to use FPs after the return time. Now that the rules are changing, though, we'll plan accordingly.

It's probably the right thing to do -- how many times have you gotten in an FP line and still had to wait more than a few minutes to enter the attraction (this happens often at RnR, for example)? No doubt, it's because more people showed up than had FPs for that particular window of time.

Edited to add: On our last trip, we had Test Track FPs with a return time of 7:15 p.m. As we sat outside the entrance watching the clock inch toward 7:15, the FP line grew so long that it extended out into the pavilion, probably 10-12 people past where the CM was collecting FPs. At exactly 7:15, we presented our FPs and we still waited over 30 minutes in the FP line (which, incidentally, made us late for our Teppan Edo ADR).

[MomToJedi&Princess]

I'm falling in the category understanding the need for enforcement, but still not a fan of it. We try to get back during our return time, but criss crossing the park is going to wear out little legs much quicker. I'm also thinking about the inconvenience of not being able to get a fastpass or meet a fastpass time because of an ADR or because the kids want to watch a parade or a HS or AK show. Hoping they extend the time frame to 3 hours. That should make it do-able under most all circumstances.

[Nyreak]

Originally Posted by Carousel96

I feel bad for the folks who get stuck because of delayed meals.
But in general, I don't see a problem with it.
The whole purpose of the FP is to spread demand over time -- if everyone comes back whenever they want, the FP doesn't work as planned. What if everyone with a FP for anytime in the day comes back at 7 p.m. Where is the benefit for the person with the printed 7 p.m. return time?
If people are taking Fast Passes because they're there, knowing full well they can't (and don't plan to) be back at the posted window, they're misusing hte system.

I agree. Perhaps they should add in something where if a meal goes longer than expected, or someone with special needs/GAC has an issue then it can be updated for a later time. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, I think you should have to use them during that time frame. It really defeats the purpose of giving 'windows' if everyone can come back at whatever time they want as long as it is after their window opens.

Our little girl wasn't feeling well when we were in Epcot and we knew we wouldn't make the Soarin' fastpass window, so we stopped at guest relations to see if they could stamp them to let she and I use them later. (We went back to the resort to rest.) They told us then that we could use them whenever, which actually started a very similar discussion within my family.

[KMB733]

I know this will mess with people's touring plans, but I think it's a positive change. I've also returned to use the FP in the alloted time slot. Until recently I never knew that you could use them after the time expired.

[Soarin829]

I do view this as a personal inconvenience (we often return way later!), but not a bad idea. While it's frustrating to miss your window, it isn't the end of the world. I think FPs get out of control, ESPECIALLY where more popular rides like Soarin' and TSM are concerned. So an attempt at better control, I believe, will really benefit the masses in the long-run.

[Mares75]

I'm fine with the new enforcement. It'll be nice not having to stand around in the crowd of other people waiting for 2 or 3 minutes to pass so you can enter the FP line.

We fall into the category of using our FP's during the allotted time. If it shows a return time where we'll be at an ADR or busy elsewhere, we don't get the FP.

I don't understand either how it can control the flow of people by spreading out the ride times if people don't go during their time frame.

[GATechGal]

Originally Posted by Mares75

I'm fine with the new enforcement. It'll be nice not having to stand around in the crowd of other people waiting for 2 or 3 minutes to pass so you can enter the FP line.

I should think the new policy will actually make this worse. For those of us that would just return sometime after our window, not worrying about being in the actual window but not before, we were not standing there waiting for our window to open up. But if we need to be a bit more prompt, many will show up a minute or 2 early and there we will be, standing there waiting for our time to come up.

[ilovedisney247]

This hasn't actually been reported by Disney yet. I did a little digging and what is going on is that Cast Members are being signed up for training for new Fast Pass procedures. This is likely part of the Next Gen roll out and I think we're going to see the traditional FP slips disappear, just like we're starting to see the traditional turn styles becoming a thing of the past.

Here's what I found:
Walt Disney World Resort

[Caldercup]

Thanks for the research, Heather! I didn't have the energy today to go looking for myself.

Screamscape, while a good resource, is a rumor site. What I found interesting is that it's basically a recounting of total conjecture and not hard information from the training itself.
Here's the kernal that caught my eye:

"The rumor going around the CMs is that the new official FastPass window policy may allow for guests to arrive up to 5 minutes early… and only up to 15 minutes late."

I think the '5 minutes early' is probably not going to do much to alleviate the gangs of people gobbing up the FP entrance area -- once it's common knowledge that they will allow people in early, people will come ten minutes early and wait. People being people and all...

[Ashli]

Originally Posted by unewillow

If the return time window was bigger, it would be less of a blow. Before I knew you could come back after the printed time, I would often NOT get a FP to an attraction because the return time was when I had an ADR. I wouldn't think that the number of people who go through the FP line at later times would make that big of a difference in the FP lines in general, but I guess this is mostly do to to new FP system.

I agree, if they opened the FP window to be 3 hours (like a previous poster suggested might happen), I think it would work much better for those who have ADR times near their FP time.

Originally Posted by GATechGal

I should think the new policy will actually make this worse. For those of us that would just return sometime after our window, not worrying about being in the actual window but not before, we were not standing there waiting for our window to open up. But if we need to be a bit more prompt, many will show up a minute or 2 early and there we will be, standing there waiting for our time to come up.

I agree with this too. If they were to leave the time at only 1 hour, I think it would jam up the works much more than it is now. People would, I believe, be more likely to be there on the dot for the FP to make sure they got in within the allotted time, as opposed to not being terribly worried because if they were a little bit late before it never mattered.