Fastpass dilemma--it had to happen to me, of course!

[MNNHFLTX]

i might be late on the uptake... what happens when you go back for your FP time and the ride is down? Are you just out of luck?

I would think that they would make an exception, but cast members can be very vague. In our situation I asked a CM if they would be very rigid about FP return times, given that the ride was down at opening. She stated it would depend on how long the ride would be down. So I guess the answer is--who knows?

[ThanxForNoticin]

Yeah I have to say that I saw absolutely zero reduction in FP wait times because of the enforcement of the one hour window.

If that's what it was intended to do it failed. Epicly. The FP lines in Space Mountain, Buzz, TSM, and Soarin' (the only attractions we used FP for) were all just as long as they always were.

I don't think you can just generally say the enforcement of this policy isn't affecting the FP lines - unless you're standing there monitoring the lines all day. I also don't think the intent of the policy is to shorten FP lines - just make them more consistent and predictable. The only people in a FP line should be those that got FPs around that particular time.

I don't have a particularly strong opinion on the enforcement policy - we almost always used the FP during the identified hour, but that was our choice. But I can tell you that we had a FP for SM last month. When we got to the FP entrance, a group of 6 people in front of us came back too late and were turned away - so I know my FP wait time was reduced by an entire SM car!

[SurferStitch]

Dining is a big part of our trips, so FP's take a back seat to them. There are many great places to dine that are worth missing a ride or attraction for us. We always spend more than one day at each park, though, so it's not an issue for us.

The good thing about FP's is the return time is posted at the kiosks. That way you know (within 5 minutes or so) what your return time is. If it's not feasible, then wait until it is.

But, at least the OP got to squeeze everything in, even though it sounded a little too stressful for me.

[i'm grumpy]

We got a snotty comment for being 5 minutes late because we had to race clear across the park.

[Gator]

Well.....

I told you so!

[MNNHFLTX]

Well.....

I told you so!

[Gator]

I was only one of many who stated that this exact scenario, or one like it, would happen. It looks like there's plenty who really don't care about the circumstances that happen to others (they will when it happens to them), which is too bad.

It also appears that there are many whose experiences agree that keeping the FP times to nearly exact perfection has done nothing to alleviate crowding in fastpass lines. So the question begs, why the change to the strict rules? All the people saying this rule enforcement is good for the parks have no ground to stand on if the lines dont' get better for FP.

I guess I'm just looking for a little more wiggle room from Disney. 5 minutes before? Fine. 15 minutes after? Bad. Give us an extra hour and that would be ample time to squeeze in our ADRs that we HAVE to book months in advance if we want anything decent to eat. Just looking for the systems to run fluid, that's all.

[MNNHFLTX]

A two-hour window would have been perfect; enough time to work around situations like this without it impacting the lines too much.

[Gator]

A two-hour window would have been perfect; enough time to work around situations like this without it impacting the lines too much.

Exactly why I chose that number. Do we need the convenience of all day FP return times? No. But an extra hour would help avoid bad situations like yours and ones we're all sure to have. Maybe a few complaints directly to Disney about this will loosen the time limits.

[Alaska Disney Fan]

Maybe they should just let some people break the rules and others not. Maybe they should say, just because you have ADR's you can have as much time as you need. Or I don't know maybe if you can't make it back in the time frame that is posted before you get your fast pass, you don't take one. If you don't like the fact that they are actually following the system the way they have it set up, then don't participate or don't spend your money there, that will really show them. Then the parks will be less crowded for those of us that don't mind going back when our correct time is.

[MNNHFLTX]

Maybe they should just let some people break the rules and others not. Maybe they should say, just because you have ADR's you can have as much time as you need. Or I don't know maybe if you can't make it back in the time frame that is posted before you get your fast pass, you don't take one. If you don't like the fact that they are actually following the system the way they have it set up, then don't participate or don't spend your money there, that will really show them. Then the parks will be less crowded for those of us that don't mind going back when our correct time is.

The sarcasm is unnecessary. I certainly abided by the rules; I was just recounting a situation that occurred. The Fastpass system is not perfect and for the amount of money that is spent on a WDW vacation I would hope that I'm allowed to relate how circumstances affected me.

[K8screen]

I dont know, as I havent been recently (going in 3 weeks! ) but I would think that the FP lines early in the day would be longer now, as people have to come back who would otherwise have held onto their FPs for later, and lines later would therefore get shorter. Is this happening?? CMs can you tell us?

[stephicakes]

Call me crazy (wouldn't be the first time! hehe ) but I think the Next Generation FP (if it comes to full fruition) would help the people who have ADRs from rushing around so much. You would schedule your FP months before, say 11am, in order to make your ADR at, say 12 noon. It would help take the guess work out of it. So... we'll have to see how things work out over the next several months. I am not personally thrilled about the Next Gen FP, but I can totally understand where it would help.

My family doesn't schedule ADRs. Just our personal choice so we aren't forced to keep to such a tight schedule. (plus 2 of us are vegetarians so you won't catch me waiting in line for any "must have" steak ) LOL

And I agree with MNNHFLTX... we should ALL be able to voice our opinions without being made to feel that they are unjust. We are all entitled to them! Let's be kind to each other - after all... we are talking about Disney here!!

[ChipNDale79]

Maybe they should just let some people break the rules and others not. Maybe they should say, just because you have ADR's you can have as much time as you need. Or I don't know maybe if you can't make it back in the time frame that is posted before you get your fast pass, you don't take one. If you don't like the fact that they are actually following the system the way they have it set up, then don't participate or don't spend your money there, that will really show them. Then the parks will be less crowded for those of us that don't mind going back when our correct time is.

By the way, there are some people that may show disney they dont like the direction they are going in by not spending their money at Disney.

I think a lot of people are not so upset about the enforcement of the windows, but more so because they are seeing why this is being done, for Fast Pass+, Xpass or whatever you want to call it.

We pay thousands of dollars to spend our vacation at WDW. I'm one of the one's that believes disney is starting to look at his guests as cattle, and for the money we spend there, I'm not happy about it. If that means fewer visits for our family, then that's what that means.

I dont think there is anything wrong with a 2 hour window as opposed to a 1 hour. It allows for situations exactly like this one. Who does it hurt?

To me this is another example of Disney cutting the value to things while they raise prices yet again. My wife and I Honeymooned at WDW in July of 2008, just 4 years later that same exact trip now cost over $500 more. Something has to give......

[biodtl]

Maybe they should just let some people break the rules and others not. Maybe they should say, just because you have ADR's you can have as much time as you need. Or I don't know maybe if you can't make it back in the time frame that is posted before you get your fast pass, you don't take one. If you don't like the fact that they are actually following the system the way they have it set up, then don't participate or don't spend your money there, that will really show them. Then the parks will be less crowded for those of us that don't mind going back when our correct time is.

I don't think anyone here is looking for special treatment like you are implying, but suggesting that there is an alternative that would make the system work for more guests.

Every visit to WDW, there is at least one ride breakdown, or extra-long wait for an ADR (or walk-up). It happens. And sure, if it makes you miss a FP time, you can shrug it off and say "Oh well" or choose not to have ADRs or not to use FPs, but the fact of the matter is that WDW encourages the use of all of these options, so it would be nice if they found a way to accommodate their simultaneous use.

A longer FP window would help a great deal with that - it would still help with the suggested problem of FP line crowding due to people returning outside the window, but it would give a little leeway to those who get stuck waiting for an ADR.

My family tries to make as few ADRs as possible (other than our "must haves"), but the fact is that depending on when you go, sometimes you need to have them if you want to be able to get a table service meal. And it can be particularity frustrating when you are forced to make your ADRs 6 months in advance, then show up 15 minutes early, and then STILL end up waiting 30 minutes last your ADR time to be seated. And that frustration only gets worse when that delay results in the expiration of a fast pass.

[Gator]

Maybe they should just let some people break the rules and others not.

1. That's what Disney is about to do. Make you pay for the FastPass+ or whatever they'll call it. You pay more, and you get better service than everyone else. I pray the 99% protestors don't get wind of this.

2. I'm asking for a change in policy toward the open window. When I see something I don't like, I try to change it instead of heading over the cliff with the rest of humanity.

3. Sarcasm is usually used when someone thinks themselves better than everyone else. We're all here to be friends with a common love for Disney World. So let's keep it Magical.

[Minnie97]

We had a problem with fastpasses at HS, we had dinner at 50's prime time(LOVE IT and a fast pass that started like ten min earlier. We ended up able to ride it but it was one of those times when your like REALLY!?

[Disney Doll]

I guess I'm still misunderstanding the problem. If you make ADRs in advance then you know in advance what time you need to arrive at the restaurant. You don't know exactly how long your meal will take, but you can estimate and give yourself enough of a cushion to plan. You also know before you take a fastpass what the return window is going to be. If it conflicts with an ADR then don't get the fastpass. Come back after your meal and get a later fp or plan that attraction for another day.

I think a deadline has to be firm in order to be effective. If they allow a grace period, then that becomes the new standard and anyone 5 minutes past the grace period is going to feel jilted. People are going to complain no matter what unless we return to the previous model with absolutely no enforcement at all.

I don't think the purpose is necessarily to speed lines. It's a huge planning tool for Disney to be able to anticipate the way guests will move through the park. When you increase the return window it's a less effective predictor.

[Gator]

I guess I'm still misunderstanding the problem. If you make ADRs in advance then you know in advance what time you need to arrive at the restaurant. You don't know exactly how long your meal will take, but you can estimate and give yourself enough of a cushion to plan. You also know before you take a fastpass what the return window is going to be. If it conflicts with an ADR then don't get the fastpass.

So I have an ADR at say Le Cellier for say Noon. I know it will take 5-10 minutes to be seater and another 60-80 minutes to finish the meal. My family loves Soarin' so I walk all the way up to the top of The Land pavillion, all the way around to the back, all the way down to and over to the fastpass section. And then it reads return time 12:10 - 1:10. Oh darn. Should I wait for a half hour so that the window ends at around 1:40? Should I return to my family empty handed and say "Maybe next year"? Should we get into the 75 minute stand-by line? I like the option of Disney letting us come back up to an hour late so we don't have to sweat it.

Fast Pass was easy when it was just my wife and I, and only 3 ADRs per trip. But with 3 kids from 1 to 7, it's hard to balance the good meals we want for them and then avoiding the long lines. With the "unlimited" FP time, it was easy. I understand they have to fix it because it was out of control, but they could throw us young families a bone by at least giving us an hour or so of wiggle room. We like to relax on vacation, and this new FP system doesn't allow for relaxation.

[ChipNDale79]

So I have an ADR at say Le Cellier for say Noon. I know it will take 5-10 minutes to be seater and another 60-80 minutes to finish the meal. My family loves Soarin' so I walk all the way up to the top of The Land pavillion, all the way around to the back, all the way down to and over to the fastpass section. And then it reads return time 12:10 - 1:10. Oh darn. Should I wait for a half hour so that the window ends at around 1:40? Should I return to my family empty handed and say "Maybe next year"? Should we get into the 75 minute stand-by line? I like the option of Disney letting us come back up to an hour late so we don't have to sweat it.

Fast Pass was easy when it was just my wife and I, and only 3 ADRs per trip. But with 3 kids from 1 to 7, it's hard to balance the good meals we want for them and then avoiding the long lines. With the "unlimited" FP time, it was easy. I understand they have to fix it because it was out of control, but they could throw us young families a bone by at least giving us an hour or so of wiggle room. We like to relax on vacation, and this new FP system doesn't allow for relaxation.

Gator, I think your idea would fix a lot of things. I'm one of the ones that would use a fast pass when I wanted to, because a CM told me to do it that way. There's just so much that can happen inside that one hour window that might prevent you from using a Fast Pass, especially the ones that you get and can't use for 5 or 6 hours later.

Honestly, if you add another hour to the window, and stagger the times like they do now, it wouldn't be a problem. If you can't make it back inside that 2 hour window, I'm ok with saying too bad.

A disney vacation should be that exactly, a vacation.