FastPass Times Enforced coming?? About This Page:

[debic]

Good to know. Not sure how much of an impact it will have on us as we generally arrive within the window. It was nice to know that it would still be honored if you were late though. Hopefully they will make the window a little longer.

[collcass]

I never realized it was some "big secret" that they could not be used early but were good for the entire day after your return time.

I heard about the policy before our 1st family trip in 2008. I wasn't sure if it was accurate and being that we wanted to utilize the FP system, I asked several CM's. I received the exact response from every single one "You can not enter before the return time on your FP, but you are welcome to use them any time after.

Worked beautifully for us (especially during the summer) we collected FP in the morning according to our touring plan, took a nice long break at the resort pool then returned to use our FP at night. With 4 young children, it would be a nightmare to criss cross the parks constantly.

I do understand the need to begin enforcement if it is, in fact, to prepare for the nexgen FP system.

If they are going to be enforced, I think we'd probably work our touring so we stay in the same general area then pull FP for more popular attractions a bit later so that they are pushed out toward the evening hours.

[Haleyboo99]

I hope they don't do that! I mean, we try to go around our time, but most of the time we dont get there at the time

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by pinkerbell

It will definitely make things more challenging for us if they start to enforce the end times, especially because we frequently combine fast passes with the baby swap.

How would it work with Baby Swap????? Anytime we have done baby swap (I think) we have sent the other group through the line immediately--but we would have the flex to return later if it worked better.

Originally Posted by 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.

We do the same thing. DH also LOVED handing out any extra FP to haggered looking families after all FPs were out for the day...

Originally Posted by Nyreak

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.

I was told by a cast member as well so it never even occurred to me that I was breaking an unspoken rule or acting in an unethical manner. I get that it works best by most people returning at the posted times, but I would imagine that most of the late returners do not converge on an attraction at the same time.

Originally Posted by collcass

I never realized it was some "big secret" that they could not be used early but were good for the entire day after your return time.

I heard about the policy before our 1st family trip in 2008. I wasn't sure if it was accurate and being that we wanted to utilize the FP system, I asked several CM's. I received the exact response from every single one "You can not enter before the return time on your FP, but you are welcome to use them any time after.

Worked beautifully for us (especially during the summer) we collected FP in the morning according to our touring plan, took a nice long break at the resort pool then returned to use our FP at night. With 4 young children, it would be a nightmare to criss cross the parks constantly. .

This is exactly how it worked best for us.

[Belle*]

Note that this is not a new policy, just enforcement of the existing policy. Cast Members have been receiving training and instruction on this.

[roaminggnome]

I guess I was also in the group that didn't know you could go early or return late. We have arrived a few minutes early-less than 5 min--and had to wait until our appointed time by a CM. I have never gone after my appointed time either. If the fastpass time is close to an ADR time we just won't take the FP.
Hopefully Disney will enforce the FP time so it fair for everyone. What good is it to have a return time window if you can use it whenever you want. People are just going to plan accordingly if they have a FP.

[dolphin041599]

We always tried to get there within the allotted time frame, but I also wasn't worried about trekking from one area of the park to another just to meet a time deadline. I hope that if they are really going to start enforcing the rules, they give you more than one hour.

[mdobereiner]

We are ones that are guilty of returning past the return time. I think we found out on our very first trip that CM's allow you to use them past the return window so we've never really thought twice about it. We don't plan to use FP's this way, but it does happen for us. I agree that I'd love to the see the window expanded a bit to go hand in hand with enforcing the times strictly. Otherwise it's always nice to hand over FP's to other guests when they can't be used!

Mel

[Nyreak]

My husband pointed something out that I didn't think about, and I thought I'd share.

The way fastpasses work is that you can get a new one once you've reached your window on the first ones you have or two hours after you get them. For example:

1.) Get a fastpass with a window that opens in 30 minutes. That means in 30 minutes you can use your fast pass and you can get another one.

2.) Get a fastpass with a window that opens 3 hours from the time you got them, which means you have to wait at least 2 hours to get one.

Why do I think them enforcing fastpasses will help here? Well, it may mean that you aren't going to see as many of the rides with fastpass return times to be several hours in the future. I know, that may sound drastic, but think about it. I know I have seen many of the fast pass stations showing return windows with as little as 10 or 15 minute wait from the time that you get them. If someone is gathering them in the morning, that could allow them to grab several different rides first thing. If you have a bunch of people doing this, then the people that are wanting fastpasses to actually use in the near future are getting later return times and having to wait longer to get their next passes.

It can be the difference between getting a fast pass for Buzz, going to the speedway, and being done in time for your fastpass window, or getting a fastpass for Buzz that is hours away causing you to have to trek back across the park to ride later in the day.

I realize that Cast Members have told people that they'll accept them later, but I can't say that I would take it as an acceptable norm. I assume they mean for extenuating circumstances, like dinner running late or a member of your party being unable to ride for medical/other special reasons. Looking back on the replies to this post makes me think that there are actually a large number of people across the parks that do this on a regular basis. It could explain why there are times when the fastpass lines seem to be moving more slowly than the standby lines, particularly in the evenings.

I'm not meaning to sound judgmental, it's actually something that I didn't think about, the cause and effect of little things like this. Food for thought, perhaps?

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by Nyreak

you have to wait at least 2 hours to get one.

I totally agree with your husband's assessment, but keep in mind that the "next FastPass available" time is a little bit fluid, based on crowds. *Sometimes* it's less than 2 hours... which is why it's important to read the "next FP" time at the bottom of the current FP you're holding.

[Wolfhunt]

Here's a thought, as Disney rolls out the Nextgen fastpass system, it might include the option to choose your own return window. That would make it easier for CM's to enforce the return time rule. Just speculating here, I haven't heard anything concrete about the new system.

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by kingfamily1129

I don't think it's very fair to people who do try to use the FP the correct way to have to either come back very late to ride the ride or not get to the use the FP line at all because people collect the FP tickets in the morning and come back when ever they want.

While I agree that I don't like people "gaming the system," I'm not sure how you wouldn't be able to ride...

If you're in line, you'll get to ride. The don't "close" a line until official park closing -- but everyone who gets into the line before that moment will get their ride in, even if it takes an hour. The only time they wouldn't get to ride is if the ride has a technical problem and shuts down.

[Caldercup]

I don't want to seem that I'm arguing the point with you, but I'm trying to understand your point of view.

If I'm understanding you, it's the fact that the return time of the FP you got is later in the day. But I don't understand how the time someone else returns for their FP would affect the return time on your FP.

I'm not aware of the FP system noting the number of people who come back to the return time window, and how many people abuse it. I'm not even aware of how CMs noting the return time and number of guests (which they don't capture or report) would affect how the FP machines begin spitting out return times.

Return times are totally tied to how many FPs are given out throughout the day -- not how they're used.

TakeTSMM-- within an hour of opening, the return times will be waaaay out in the afternooon (or completely gone). And that's based solely on the number of people who snap up the available FPs, and not on when guests actually return.

I do see that, if people abuse the system, their arrival in your return window will slightly slow down the FP line you enter. But that will be marginal, as the "abusers" won't all be arriving at the same time -- they filter in throughout the day as their plans unfold. (And this is part of the algorithm Disney has set up for FPs, at least according to what I've seen in the patent and what people have examined and reported.)

Again, I'm not arguing this. I'm interested in how the algorithm works and how people perceive it to work.

[ShellingConnie]

It will change how I tour and get FP's since I'm one of the folks who would get them in the morning but not use them until after my afternoon break since lines would be shorter in the morning.

And since I know it's maybe coming, I can do my touring differently but I will miss my old way of touring the parks since I've been doing it for 6 years.

[GATechGal]

But it's not like you can't ride without a FP. You can still wait in the queue. Where this breaks things down for ME is that it's a LOT harder for me to plan MY day effeciently (someone who only gets to go to WDW every 2 years) since I never know when my return time will be. If I HAVE to be there in a window, and I'm across the park, what am I having to skip? And treking all over the park with a child not in a stroller would be a no go. It's MUCH easier to do all the FP rides in a given area one after the other rather than treking all over the park. And if I have a morning return time, but don't use it until later, it makes the stand-by line go quicker in the morning. So things should all average out. I would be REALLY interested to know what has caused Disney to feel the need to enforce the times.