ride closure question - FP compensation?

[heather13]

So this a moot point for me since our trip was last week, but after reading comments here maybe this can serve as a public service to others...
I was under the impression from posts here that if a ride is closed during a FP window, an "anytime" FP would be allowed so that the user(s) could ride any ride any time within the next day.

We had FP time for POTC at 5:05. It was closed until 5:45 according to MDE (which I kept checking because we were going to try to use it). On MDE it showed that we had to use the FP by park close that night or it would expire so I negotiated with my young kids and they wanted to ride a coaster.

Long story short, we tried to use the FP at two rides but were told one wasn't an option (7DMT) and the other didn't accept FP after 7pm (BTMRR) due to Halloween party. By then it was 7:15 and we'd already done an almost full loop of the park to get to the two coasters and figured we were just out of luck. But I'm wondering whether we should have fought this with customer service. Thoughts?

 

[AngiTN]

There wasn't really anything to "fight" with CS.
The only time you get a FP to use the next day too is if the ride goes down in the final hour of operation. If it's earlier in the day then it's only for that day.
And the FP are only good on certain rides, the list is given in MDE when you click on the FP
And the CM was right. FP end at the beginning of the party
So everything does sound like it was handled just like it was supposed to be

 

[Andyman33]

Unfortunately they are pretty clear that the anytime fp is for any ride not named 7dmt or Peter Pan usually. Unless you have one of those then it’s for anything.
As for the 715 thing...the park was closed if you didn’t have a party ticket you should have already been gone. If you did have a party ticket there is no fastpass line during the party.
Chalk it up to a learning experience

 

[BrianL]

We had a couple of replacement FP's over the past week and they were restricted from certain rides, like 7DMT, Frozen, and of course the Pandora stuff. Actually, when 7DMT was down, I never got the notice about a replacement but we went back later and explained it to the CM after the blue light came up. They corrected it and let us through and said they weren't sure why the notices weren't going out.

 

[heather13]

Thanks - I didn't see the list on MDE. I truly looked because I thought there might be restrictions but there were not details. It was on the email but I didn't receive that until the next day. We had a party ticket but spent more than 30 minutes just trying to use the FP (we were at 7DMT before 7, just couldn't get through crowds to get anywhere else). MDE specifically stated that the FP could be used until the park closed which, we assumed, was midnight since we were at the party. Oh well, probably good for others to know.

 

[mesaboy2]

From Post #2 of the FP FAQ (red emphasis added):

- If an attraction is closed temporarily due to weather or technical issues during a guest’s scheduled FP window, the FP can be used for that same attraction at any time for the remainder of the day (assuming it reopens). In addition, the FP can be used for specific other attractions (located in the same park) for the remainder of the day. CMs at the affected attraction can provide a list and MDX may send an email to the MDX account holder to alert them of their options.

- FPs can be scheduled only during regular park hours, including the first and last hours of operation. All FP attractions can be scheduled for any part of the regular day, except Frozen Ever After which does not allow FPs before 11:00a.

Together, that sounds like what you experienced.

 

[purple figment]

MDE specifically stated that the FP could be used until the park closed which, we assumed, was midnight since we were at the party.

FPs are good only during the park's regular operating hours which on that day ended at 7 PM even though the park remained open until midnight because of the party. They are not valid during after hours events such as the Halloween party.

 

[turtlechick6]

I don't know. To me, if their ride breaks, the least they can do is make it up to you in some fashion and honestly if that means letting them in the fast pass line for Seven Dwarfs mine train so be it or whatever. They should not have rides breaking down all the time. I have seen way too many rides being "Temporarily Closed" as I sporadically check the app the last couple weeks.

 

[AngiTN]

I don't know. To me, if their ride breaks, the least they can do is make it up to you in some fashion and honestly if that means letting them in the fast pass line for Seven Dwarfs mine train so be it or whatever. They should not have rides breaking down all the time. I have seen way too many rides being "Temporarily Closed" as I sporadically check the app the last couple weeks.

If it's an outside ride they can just as often be down for rain, probably more often, than for mechanical reasons.

 

[Hootch]

We had FPs for Kali and were about to board when they closed for inclement weather. The CM gave us FPs for any ride in DAK, excluding Panora, until the end of the month.

 

[AngiTN]

We had FPs for Kali and were about to board when they closed for inclement weather. The CM gave us FPs for any ride in DAK, excluding Panora, until the end of the month.

Good point. If you have already redeemed your FP and a ride goes down before you get a chance to ride, or while you are riding, you do get a paper FP that is valid longer than the electronic version you get.

 

[Magpie]

I don't know. To me, if their ride breaks, the least they can do is make it up to you in some fashion and honestly if that means letting them in the fast pass line for Seven Dwarfs mine train so be it or whatever. They should not have rides breaking down all the time. I have seen way too many rides being "Temporarily Closed" as I sporadically check the app the last couple weeks.

As the previous poster said, inclement weather can close a ride. I'd add to that that guests behaving badly can shut down a ride, too. If someone steps out of their car in Haunted Mansion, for example, they apparently have to do a complete reset of the ride, which can take a bit.

 

[otten]

As the previous poster said, inclement weather can close a ride. I'd add to that that guests behaving badly can shut down a ride, too. If someone steps out of their car in Haunted Mansion, for example, they apparently have to do a complete reset of the ride, which can take a bit.

Yep last year at California Adventure we were about to do the fun wheel when they shut down the ride. Shortly after we saw someone escorted off by security with their hands behind their back.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

So this a moot point for me since our trip was last week, but after reading comments here maybe this can serve as a public service to others...
I was under the impression from posts here that if a ride is closed during a FP window, an "anytime" FP would be allowed so that the user(s) could ride any ride any time within the next day.

We had FP time for POTC at 5:05. It was closed until 5:45 according to MDE (which I kept checking because we were going to try to use it). On MDE it showed that we had to use the FP by park close that night or it would expire so I negotiated with my young kids and they wanted to ride a coaster.

Long story short, we tried to use the FP at two rides but were told one wasn't an option (7DMT) and the other didn't accept FP after 7pm (BTMRR) due to Halloween party. By then it was 7:15 and we'd already done an almost full loop of the park to get to the two coasters and figured we were just out of luck. But I'm wondering whether we should have fought this with customer service. Thoughts?

There was nothing to fight. The park closed at 7 pm (no FP+ can be redeemed during a hard-ticket event) and 7DMT is excluded in the FP+ you receive if a ride goes down during your FP+ window. Rule of thumb, if your FP+ ride is down during your window, check your e-mail for notification and the alternate rides available. It won't show in MDE.

 

[AngiTN]

There was nothing to fight. The park closed at 7 pm (no FP+ can be redeemed during a hard-ticket event) and 7DMT is excluded in the FP+ you receive if a ride goes down during your FP+ window. Rule of thumb, if your FP+ ride is down during your window, check your e-mail for notification and the alternate rides available. It won't show in MDE.

It does show in MDE. When the FP converts to an Anytime FP, it indicates this in MDE when you look at all your FP. You just have to click/tap on the FP to open it and see the details, which will show a list of rides it's valid on. If your MDE hasn't refreshed to show the anytime FP, you can click the little Refresh button or log out and back in.

 

[Moliphino]

Good point. If you have already redeemed your FP and a ride goes down before you get a chance to ride, or while you are riding, you do get a paper FP that is valid longer than the electronic version you get.

Sometimes even when you haven't used a fastpass. Stitch broke down in the middle for us last year and they handed everyone an anytime paper fastpass on the way out.

 

[AngiTN]

Sometimes even when you haven't used a fastpass. Stitch broke down in the middle for us last year and they handed everyone an anytime paper fastpass on the way out.

True. No matter how you got in line (stand by or FP) for a ride, if it goes down while you are in line you will get a FP to come back and ride it again.

 

[HopperFan]

So this a moot point for me since our trip was last week, but after reading comments here maybe this can serve as a public service to others...
I was under the impression from posts here that if a ride is closed during a FP window, an "anytime" FP would be allowed so that the user(s) could ride any ride any time within the next day.

We had FP time for POTC at 5:05. It was closed until 5:45 according to MDE (which I kept checking because we were going to try to use it). On MDE it showed that we had to use the FP by park close that night or it would expire so I negotiated with my young kids and they wanted to ride a coaster.

Long story short, we tried to use the FP at two rides but were told one wasn't an option (7DMT) and the other didn't accept FP after 7pm (BTMRR) due to Halloween party. By then it was 7:15 and we'd already done an almost full loop of the park to get to the two coasters and figured we were just out of luck. But I'm wondering whether we should have fought this with customer service. Thoughts?

Bolded is not correct. If you read the email you will see that there are often some rides you can not ride, always 7DMT AND sometimes there is a list of the only rides that are available. It should also state that it should be used during normal operating hours.

To answer your question; no I don't think you should have gone to customer service. You had 2 hours to utilize the FP+ on something on the allowed list. You attempted a ride that does not allow you to use it (unless your original FP+ was for 7DMT) and you were past the normal operating hours at BTMRR, so it had expired. If Pirates was closed at 5:05, not sure why it took you over 2 hours to get to BTMRR. You could have waited for Pirates but if you were concerned it was closed for night, look at the email as to what you could ride and pick one.

You had not stood in line or boarded the ride then encountered a shut down. The email gives you the opportunity to make another selection if you don't want to wait. This situation is really is no different than if you had missed your FP+ time frame, it's just lost.


Sample email:

 

[ShadeDK]

Sometimes even when you haven't used a fastpass. Stitch broke down in the middle for us last year and they handed everyone an anytime paper fastpass on the way out.

Same thing happened to me last month when I was in the standby line for Space Mountain. There was a CM with a stack of paper anytime FPs handing those out as we all exited. Good until the end of the month for any ride at MK (excluding 7DMT and PP). As a strange side note: I lost my wallet that evening, but got it back the next day (kudos to Disney Lost & Found!). The cash was gone, but they left the paper FP. Make of that what you will.

As for getting an anytime FP as a result of Stitch going down? I'd rank that right around playing the cheap slots in Vegas, the machine eating your nickel, and having the house comp you the Presidential Suite for the night to make up for it. (I'll miss Stitch - both ironically, and because you have to set the low bar somewhere).

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It does show in MDE. When the FP converts to an Anytime FP, it indicates this in MDE when you look at all your FP. You just have to click/tap on the FP to open it and see the details, which will show a list of rides it's valid on. If your MDE hasn't refreshed to show the anytime FP, you can click the little Refresh button or log out and back in.

Great! I've never seen the list in MDE and have always relied on the e-mail. So I guess rule of thumb is actually check your e-mail OR MDE to see what your options are before traipsing all over the park or thinking you need to be compensated somehow.