(Photo Credit: Ride Max)
It has officially happened. Fastpasses are now only valid for the one hour window that is printed on the ticket. All Fastpass tickets now include the fine print “not able to accomodate late arrivals” (and that is Disney’s spelling error, not mine lol).
The new system started today. From what I am hearing on the Disboards, there is a 15 minute grace period after your window closes (you can see GP 11:40 printed in the lower right corner of the above Fastpass which we believe stands for a grace period up to 11:40 am).
I’m very interested in seeing how this changes the Fastpass lines at Disney. I am not sure how many people were aware that you could use Fastpasses at any time during the day after the return window opens (so if it said 10:25 to 11:25, you could redeem it anytime after 10:25 up until the park closed), so I can’t wait to hear about people’s experiences as we enter the busy Spring Break season at Disney.
As for our personal touring strategy, it just completely shook it up. We always used Fastpasses after the return window. We liked the ability to play our schedule around our meals and kids and not around when we were allowed to ride which ride. But we will learn to adapt to this change and hopefully it’ll be for the better.
What are your thoughts?
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Thanks for a nice post.
This makes me so angry. Why is it for that time only and I think that it should be more than an hour
It only makes sense that you use it during the period on the ticket, and not whenever you felt like going. To go outside that time frame is cheating, in my honest opinion. To me this is no big deal because we went during the specified time, and the cheaters just have to plan accordingly.
Was at Rockin Rollercoaster today. I can tell the change is in place. Waited 25 minutes outside the building in the fast pass line before going in. I have never had to wait in a fast pass line, until today.
Nooooo! This does totally screw up everything. I have always horded my FastPasses until the evening. That has always been my strategy and it is what I always share with people when instructing them what to do inside the park. It even explains how to do it in my book, and now that information is void. But I guess it’s hard to keep up with Disney anyway with everything always changing.
For those of you going this week, good luck and have fun standing in line :-/
FYI for those going to Disneyland we got FP yesterday for Star Tours and there was no new wording on the tickets. I don’t think this is being enforced in Disneyland yet. i don’t know if it will later but as of now the tickets look and work the same.
I agree. I’m surprised that you (Kristen or anyone else) would be bummed about this, or even admit that you would freely break the rules. Just because Disney is very accommodating to their guests, doesn’t mean that you should abuse of their good graces. I always made my plans around the fast pass times. That is how we routinely (we are annual pass holders) saw the majority of the parks each month when we go.
Ohhh nooooo! This is going to change our whole system of “doing DIsney.” We typically did not go back during the time given- it was a blessing to be able to move around the park and not have to rush all the way back for a certain time. We always go to Disney during off-peak season, so I never saw a long fast pass line. Many of you have said that you or others have gotten angry when they saw someone use a fast pass from hours before- but my question is….how would you know what their fast pass said?? it is a pretty small ticket and you just hand it to the cast member. Oh well, we are going to have to work with it and make a new schedule.
Eh, doesn’t make that much of a difference. Any time that we’ve gotten a FP, we always used it during it’s proper time, because, hey, that’s the time you’re given to come back. That’s how the system was intended to work. I’m glad that they’re enforcing the times. It should make the wait times be less this way. :)
You know what else makes the lines super long? People that hold one spot in the line while their group goes off and does whatever. Then suddenly you have groups of 5-10 people squeezing through the lines to get in front of you.
There is a lot of bitterness over these fastpasses. We liked to use the FPs during the times that they were available (as printed on the ticket), but I also liked being able to ride other rides and not worry about getting caught either 45 minutes before FP time when I’ve ridden everything in the area, or else getting out of a super long line and hoofing it to the other side of the park because I only have 10 minutes left on a FP.
To the person that said they saw a group of adults getting FP and not using their kids tickets for FPs- that is TOTALLY wrong and a real abuse of the system. :(
It seems to me that the purpose of the FastPass was to give you a chance to ride without waiting. if people can come back at any time, that defeats the purpose! They are trying to allow so many people for each time slot to keep things moving. Even though Disney is the best about catering to its guests, they still need to have rules!
Makes me a little sad… we are going with my 2 year old next month and since 2 year olds generally make their own schedule, I thought it would have been nice with her not to have worry about that, but oh well! I am just so grateful that Disney does the Fast Pass! After going to a local theme park last summer and them NOT having Fast Pass, you really realize how much time you DON’T waste in lines at Disney!
I think it’s great. There’s nothing worse than when you’re trying to get to the ride during your fast pass time, then all of a sudden a group of 20 people are using a fast pass from that morning!! how is that fair? the times were always printed on the fast pass, so I don’t understand why people are so up in arms about it. If you don’t want to ride it, don’t get a fast pass. but I think it’ll move the lines along now.
God forbid you go back for the time listed. If you can’t use it, don’t get it. It’s that easy.
I think overall it will make the lines move quicker. The only time I’ve used a fast pass late was when I was in the fast pass line to ride Splash Mountain and they had to shut it down. I asked if it would be okay to come back and use it later when it reopened and the cast member said it would be fine. I hope in situations like this they might allow exceptions.
I am glad to see that Disney is attempting to make the lines shorter and smoother. If you don’t adhere to the “rules” of the program, you can’t say with any certainity that it is a success or a failure. I, too, almost always used the Fastpass during the assigned time. Last year, we waited over an hour in the standby line for the Peter Pan ride because there was such a huge Fast Pass line! Forget trying to ride Toy Story Mania. The FP are gone within hours of the park opening.
We always used our passes during the appropriate time frame. That is the reason for the times on the passes…so that you can get on the attraction easier and faster. I had no idea Disney was allowing people to use their passes once the time had expired. I’m glad they are enforcing the times now. It really defeats the purpose of the fast passes otherwise IMO.
I do not think this helps. They provide what they decide is the maximum number of FP for each time slot. Forcing people to come during that time will ensure the FP line is long. We always went when the FP line was short so even though we did not necessarily use them in the given time, we did not adversely impact others and maximized our day at the park. Now we will have to wait in the longer FP line with everyone else that is forced into that same window.
I don’t have a problem with it. You got your fass pass use it when it says. I never knew that it was good after the time. If it was good anytime it would have said that. I think it is a great way to not wait in line.
:-( We are going to Disney in a week, so now I have to rethink my strategy. Still love FP though. Thanks for posting the info.
I understand why they’re doing it, but it will definitely change the way we plan our days. We never used them within the window.
And … didn’t they spell “accommodate” wrong on the fast past you posted?
I’ve always used Fastpasses in the window in which we’re supposed to use them. This system was like a gift, especially with small children – not having to wait in line for hours. I don’t like to be a voice of dissention here, but this is another example of something that was really awesome being ruined by people who didn’t think they had to follow the guidelines.
I didn’t finish my comment! The problem with not returning within the window is late fastpass users are then able to get into line and delay those who are actually using their fastpass at the appropriate times.
We had always used the FP tickets at the correct time, until our last trip (February 2012). The only reason we did it was because Disney upped our time on a tour because the tour wasn’t busy. We got to the ride 15 minutes passed our allotted time and the person collecting the FP tickets yelled at me like I was a child. He said and what were you doing this past hour that you couldn’t make it here. I was so embarrassed!! I didn’t know you could do it, we just wanted to see because we missed our time. I can see both sides of the debate, because some people abuse the FP system. I overheard a large group of people talking about how they would just get FP for the adults and not the kids that way they could use the kids tickets to get FP to ride again. He said they aren’t going to turn us away because the kids don’t have them. That bugged me because we only got to ride Toy Story Mania ONCE because all the FP were gone by 11am! I guess we could have riden it later, but didn’t want to wait 80 minutes!
I am happy about the change. I always use mine at the right time frame. However, I know people that actually save their Fastpasses until the very end of the day when the lines can get backed up. This is unfair to those that have been waiting all day when the passes have run out and you really want to get on a ride you have been waiting on all day. The time frame is there for a reason and should be used at the right time. I hope this new system works for the better and will actually improve wait times.
omg I think I’m going to cry. That is so horrible.
Though it is Disney and I wonder how heavily this will be enforced considering how extremely customer service oriented they are.
I have a friend who works at Disney and was extremely tired of the complaints about people returning at the wrong times. She said it was a real mess for the cast members. It completely messed up the intent of FP. If people returned whenever they wanted then the system broke down. The cast members have been asking for this for years so I suspect it will be strictly enforced. The policy is clearly printed on the front of the FP so I don’t know why guests would try to argue and test the great guest service they already offer.
WE just went to disneyland 2 weeks ago and never returned in the 1 hour window for the fp. We are ridemax dl goeers. Run for the fp and not wait any longer than 15 minutes in any line. That really sucks if they start inforcing it.
I had no idea you could use it at anytime and have always used it during the one hour window. No big deal to me.
My sister and I were at DW in January and used fast passes. We never knew we could use them outside of our window. Doesn’t make sense that you could, if you ask me. We even threw a fast pass out and got a new one when we realized that we were late to a ride. I think it makes sense to enforce it during the time slot. It keeps it from getting messy.
wow. We always used ours outside the window. On new years eve we had a fast pass blessing and ended up with 7 or 8, good at various times during the day. It made the day work so well! I will say that we saw several confrontations between guests in the regular line and cm. The guests were upset that they had waited hours in line ( the regular line was over 3 hours for space mountain on new years eve, I think it might have been 6 hours!) and the fast pass folks kept getting in ahead of them. One guy had to be escorted out by security. So I can see why cm think this is a good idea, but using them anytime after the entry time was pretty wonderful.
We usually use ours within the window. However, there are times when the FP window starts just a little before our ADR time for a restaurant on the other side of the park. In those cases, we’d come back after the window, as it would have been impossible to make it back on time. The supposed 15 minute grace period might not even make it possible if it’s a long dinner.
I say that part of the experience is the waiting in line!!!!! As many times as I’ve been to Disneyland, I have never once used the Fastpass.
I think what got me were the people who said they had ADRs during their time frame. That really annoyed me because the times that you return to come back to get FPs are advertised before you get them.
It just takes a little more planning to make sure you’re at the attraction at the right time. :)
We’re going this weekend so I’ll let you know.
We only used the a handful of times in the few times we were there. Soarin’, Test Track (which we always got the ticket, went to universe of energy and then pretty much walked onto the ride), and once for Space Mountain (but the didn’t need the passes when we got there). We aren’t really planners except for which park, and any dining reservations we may have. We just like to go where our hearts lead. But I think it will actually work closer to the way it was intended. You should see more even fastpass lines.
I’m glad for the change- we always tried to make it within the hour +/- 15 min
Deanna’s comment expresses the problem well. I’m afraid I was one of the people who used fast-passes outside the designated time, to make our family schedule work with meals and where we were in the parks and not criss-crossing the park, etc. But after I spoke with the two cast members about the upcoming changes, I realized then that I was contributing to the problem.
So we’ll miss it, but the change makes sense.
Marcia
Thank you Marcia. : )
We always used ours during the window given, so it doesn’t change things for us much.
Boooo! I agree, we will adjust but it’s a real bummer. :)
I completely agree that it should always have been enforced. The whole purpose of FP is to shorten your wait in line somewhat. If everyone came whenever they chose then what is the point, you only end up waiting on line longer than you might have had you waited on the standby line in the first place. I always felt that people abused it when they came back when it was convenient for them and ruined it for those of us who used it when it was supposed to be used.
Hi Deanna!
I’m glad they’re doing this. We have always used the ticket as Disney intended – only during the time period stated on the ticket.
We returned home from Disney World a few weeks ago, and a couple of the cast members at Magic Kingdom told me that all of them were counting down the days until this one-hour enforcement went into effect. They feel it will help greatly with both the fast-pass and regular lines going much more efficiently time-wise and more smoothly generally. The two cast members that discussed it with me feel the benefits will be huge—visitors will really see the difference.
Even though my family will really miss being able to use the fast-passes later (and also being able to accumulate fast-passes, because we’d grab the next one when we reached the time allowed to get another), I’m hopeful that the cast members are right and that overall the lines/waiting will work better.
Marcia
I have mixed feelings. Most people had no idea you could use your FP whenever. BUT, there would be times, for example, right before a fantasmic show where the FP line would get bombarded at RnR and ToT by those with FPs that expired way earlier which would cause the regular line to back up even more. It was terrible. So, I see both sides.
OH man! I never knew that you could use them anytime! I guess that info doesn’t help me now that they are enforcing it!
I admit to having done both… returned to the attraction at the specified time, and returned to the attraction later. But I’m actually glad this will be enforced now!
We were last at Disney in June (2011). We returned with fastpasses to Soarin’ about 3 hours after our Fastpass window. We were flat out turned down then. First and only time it has ever happened. I was pretty darn annoyed then, but understood…
Just my luck! We are going to Disneyworld during Spring Break and the old fastpass system was how I planned my days. Now I have to make out a new schedule. Even though this is not good news for me, thanks so much for the post. I would’ve been a wreck if I got there and my itinerary wasn’t as planned. I like to get the most out of my disney vacations by planning which rides and fastpass to get first but this definitely changes plans!
Disneyland, Disney World or both???
Both
They said it was specifically a WDW problem, not Disneyland, and there were no plans to change the program at Disneyland.
To be honest, we hardly ever use Fast Passes and never have any problem getting on all the rides we want. The return times are clearly printed on the Fast Pass, so I never would have thought to abuse the system by using one after it had expired.
Oh my…I’m so glad this was not in effect when we were there in January. The majority of the time we go after the ending time. Then you are guaranteed to be able to ride that busy ride but you can do other things in the meantime and not fret if you miss the window. This is a real bummer.
We generally used them in that one hour time period. We never had a set schedule besides meals and what park was which day.
I’m all for it!
I’ve got mixed feelings about the system overall though. While I love Fastpasses for rides with long lines (like Space & Splash Mountain) I think that the passes actually make lines longer at places like Buzz Lightyear. And for some rides (Winnie the Pooh!) the pass didn’t get us in front of anyone at all, and was a complete waste.
We used it for the correct time… and we still had to wait an hour plus because people didn’t go at the time it said to go… so i am glad they did this…
We never overly took advantage. But I have to disagree with Cheryl. I’m ant the reserve a time……I hate having to make ADRs having to reserve ride times too would really take having to overplay and know where one wants to be on vacation even more out of control.
I havent been to disney in forever to be honest, but the last time we had passes we used them within the hour
This is VERY bad news. We never use them on time. Is this only for WDW or can I expect this at Disneyland as well?
I feel like a fool. I had no idea that before this you could use them after the window passed. *face palm* Seems likely this will make the FP lines shorter.
It doesn’t effect us we always used it for the right time. Using it at different times screws up the Fast past lines.
Using fast passes anytime after the stated time did not “screw up” the fast pass line. The system was initially planned to allow for return anytime after; this was not an accidental oversight on the part of Disney. Disney plans far ahead and makes changes that are very well thought out.
What I’m hoping is that this is the precursor to being able to reserve a FP time in advance.
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
This makes me super sad :(.