Confirmed: FASTPASS Return Time Enforced
The rumor about changes coming to the FASTPASS service (which was floating around in many other Disney-focused websites and blogs) has finally been confirmed by the Walt Disney World Resort.
Indeed, starting from Wednesday, March 7, 2012 all guests will be expected to return within the return time window that is specified on the FASTPASS ticket that they received. This means that if a guest received a ticket that states "Return Between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m." they will have to come to the attraction and use their Fastpass only between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Late arrivals will NOT be honored any longer.
There are, of course, some exceptions. Guests that arrive either 5 minutes in advance or up to 15 minutes later will still be able to use the FASTPASS queue. Late FASPASSes will also continue to be honored in case of an attraction downtime, a delay in meal service or personal emergency. Disney has stated that the reason of this change was to give guests "the opportunity to enjoy [more] this great service."
There are, of course, some exceptions. Guests that arrive either 5 minutes in advance or up to 15 minutes later will still be able to use the FASTPASS queue. Late FASPASSes will also continue to be honored in case of an attraction downtime, a delay in meal service or personal emergency. Disney has stated that the reason of this change was to give guests "the opportunity to enjoy [more] this great service."
What is your opinion on this change? Previously, guests could use the FASTPASS service even five, six, seven, or even more hours after their return time window expired. Now this will not happen any longer. Is this a positive or negative thing? Feel free to share your opinions and comments on this very interesting subject!
My friends and I would collect fastpasses for major attractions and then wait in line for them, saving the pass for the end of the night to re-ride everything quickly. I'm going to miss this freedom.
ReplyDeleteAlso, quick note, Theme Park Insider posted this: http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201112/2824/
a while back. Any info on it?
I like it! I've never been one to go outside the time frame so I expect the same from others. We all have scheduling issues, that just means you ride it next time or get another fast pass.
ReplyDeleteI only started doing this lately (arriving much later than the "window time") and liked that option. However, I will say that that's probably the reason for all of the FastPass "hiccups". If everyone receives a FP and no one comes back during their "window", then what's the point? So, hopefully this will alleviate that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with Tom when he said we all have scheduling issues, etc. I've seen concerns on other boards that people say "Well, *what if*..." (fill in the blanks... "dinner is late", "a ride breaks down", "I'm on the other side of the park", etc.). Well, as Tom pointed out, we all have scheduling issues, so we'll all have to do a better job of scheduling! (Sure you can't "schedule" getting stuck on a ride, but Disney will know which rides are down.) If you're late returning to your FP because you went longer in a meal, then perhaps eating earlier next time will rectify that situation in the future.
Just my 2-cents...
It´s great Disney is finaly doing this. Anyone could understand that you have to be there at that time so you have no waiting time to get on the ride. If you are not on time it should pass. I use it to do the one or two attractions that have long lines and I can´t stand that long. The rest of the time, come on, you are on vacation, take your time, don´t plan your day by the second, it´s retarded!
ReplyDeleteFastpass was intended as a means to beat long queues on the most popular rides so quests don't waste too long queuing and have the chance to see more attractions. The idea of saving a fastpass to re-ride an attraction later in the day (way after the fastpass window) both defeats the point of fastpass and is somewhat selfish - it prevents another guest having that fastpass and may mean they miss out on an attraction due to time spent queuing.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to go on that ride you should make a little bit of effort to return within your allotted time window. Its not as if Disney are being unreasonable - you get a whole hour time window, its not really that difficult!
And the fastpass return time is displayed before you get your fastpass - if the return window is not convenient, DON'T GRAB A FASTPASS!!!
its hardly rocket science...
Yeah, I totally think this is the right decision. Compare this to a dinner reservation: if you don't get there in time, your seats are given to the next waiting guests. Why should something be held up if you don't show up and others are waiting??
ReplyDeleteI also think that both queues, the FP AND the stand-by will run much more fluid. I remember one time waiting for TOT and just before entering the lobby, the FP queue suddenly filled up until the entrance (not a tour group, they didn't belong together, you could tell that). That caused 25 more minutes waiting for the stand-by crowd. This won't happen again when FP times are enforced.