Originally Posted By 21raven does the fastpass system at TDL work the same way as in Disneyland and WDW, in which if guests do not show up between the time listed, we are still allowed to use it?
Originally Posted By TokyoSweets You can get away with it but they might tell you not to do it next time.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss In a country where rules are taken pretty seriously, even if it would be tolerated, I'd rather not be thought of as a rude "Gaijin."
Originally Posted By barboy ///In a country where rules are taken pretty seriously, even if it would be tolerated, I'd rather not be thought of as a rude "Gaijin."/// Your comment reminds me of the single most uncomfortable moment I ever had while in Japan....... and it happened at the Monorail exit to the Mira Costa(I think it was the exit??? hmm... this was 2 years ago so I might be off). Wife inserted her passport/ticket/media card into the machine to exit the station and proceed to the covered, elevated direct walk to Mira Costa but she was way too slow entering the gate and the machine processed the card but but didn't allow her to pass........ even worse the machine "ate" her card/ticket by pulling it back inside: Like Shiriki Untundo her card was there then it wasn't! GONE SO FAST she told me(I never saw it since I was already through the gate). So here we are separated by the gate and she can not pass because she has no more card. She asked a male cast member at the monorail platform to help. So the CM took the machine apart looking for this missing card first in some metal catch tray. He even ran a 'dummy' card through the whole works and his card came out the other side but not Wife's. He thought we were trying to pull a fast one, as if we never had a card/ticket in the first place. Obviously we didn't let it go and frustration set in on both of us. We knew the machine had the card/ticket and he "knew" that we were either unethical Americans trying to pull a fast one or too arrogant to admit we're wrong. He called over his supervisor and the two took the machine apart even more thoroughly because we wouldn't let it go. The four of us were at an impasse and neither party would budge. I wanted Disney to issue a new card they they weren't going to have any of that. The two searched and tested the machine again to prove us wrong and guess what........the card was "standing" against the wall of the catch tray deep in the machine and that is why the first CM failed to see it. Those two looked very embarrassed since they at first "knew" we were rude, opportunistic Gaijin only to find themselves eating crow before us.
Originally Posted By SeaTokyo agree with trekkeruss - just show up on time! I didn't even know you could get away with that at Disneyland and WDW... to me that defeats the purpose of issuing FAST PASSES.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed, I only ever use my FPs in the allotted times no matter which park. The unethical behaviours of people in the parks make me sick
Originally Posted By Mr X ***The two searched and tested the machine again to prove us wrong and guess what........the card was "standing" against the wall of the catch tray deep in the machine and that is why the first CM failed to see it. Those two looked very embarrassed since they at first "knew" we were rude, opportunistic Gaijin only to find themselves eating crow before us.*** If you really wanted to be a jerk, you could have at that point demanded to see their supervisor. ;p It's always something with those train guys, I don't know what it is about them (quite atypical compared to any other Japanese "service" positions, they tend to act more like cops than anything else).
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Barboy wrote: "He thought we were trying to pull a fast one, as if we never had a card/ticket in the first place." "We knew the machine had the card/ticket and he "knew" that we were either unethical Americans trying to pull a fast one or too arrogant to admit we're wrong." "Those two looked very embarrassed since they at first "knew" we were rude, opportunistic Gaijin only to find themselves eating crow before us. " How did you know that they were thinking that you and your wife were trying to cheat the system? Did the CMs accuse her of not inserting a ticket or showed doubt that she did? Why did you think it was a "gaijin" issue? -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By TokyoSweets I think a missed FP is the least of the rude behavior a CM will see in a day.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara I rarely if ever return during the FastPass "window." Since they accept all FastPasses anytime after the window has passed, it makes no sense to use it then. Particularly in Tokyo Disneyland where everything becomes a crazy gridlock in the afternoon. Having four or five Fastpasses to start using around 2 pm is a great thing.
Originally Posted By barboy ///How did you know that they were thinking that you and your wife were trying to cheat the system?/// Good and very fair point because obviously there is no way to know with certainty what they were thinking. I should have said "I assumed that they were thinking we were either trying to pull a fast one or just too arrogant to admit we were wrong" I make that assumption because after the 1st CM thoroughly searched the machine and even ran a dummy ticket through the works that his mood changed very fast. Instead of a helpful smiling CM he became short, frustrated and doubting. He was trying to really impress us that there was absolutely no way possible that she put a card in there...... thus we were either lying or too proud to admit we're wrong. He called in a supervisor to deal with us because we asked for a new card and there was no way on earth the CM was going to get us a replacement. And when the supervisor showed up we would not let it go and both parties became beyond frustrated with the other. We asked for another card very politely from the supervisor and he too was not going to have any of that. We then demanded a replacement card but again no way, no how. The situation grew more heated as the two CM's were very loud with each other ---speaking in Japanese of course--- and animated too. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ALL 4 OF US. And what didn't help things is that we had 3 very different cultures colliding at once: US, Japan and Philippines
Originally Posted By barboy /// Did the CMs accuse her of not inserting a ticket or showed doubt that she did? Why did you think it was a "gaijin" issue? -- MagicalNezumi/// Again, all good points..... CM's basically said she never put a card in; "accuse" might be too strong of a word but that is in effect what was happening. They 100% knew we were wrong about the ticket since they ripped that machine apart and all "eaten" cards would have landed in that catch tray or been clogged inside the works. The both ran dummy cards so the works were clean and clear and there was no card in the tray so obviously there was no card to begin with......a very simple and safe conclusion to make. The gaijin assumption comes from that fact that few Japanese would pull such a stunt whereas "Americans" can get aggressive, loud and have a higher chance of manipulating or cheating the system. But again I am assuming.
Originally Posted By barboy ///It's always something with those train guys, I don't know what it is about them (quite atypical compared to any other Japanese "service" positions, they tend to act more like cops than anything else)./// Very interesting, interesting indeed! I guess that somewhat supports my claim that the CM's were none too amused with us. But there is something else here that should be talked about: The 2 CM's knew 3 facts about our profile that should have persuaded them to just go get another damn ticket/card and be done with this stupid episode. 1) we were dressed well US tourists to Japan and Japan costs a lot of money to see....... which goes to credibility. 2) we were staying in their highest and most lavish hotel..... Mira Costa(but in a base room)....... credibility again. 3) I was already through the gate and we were married. I showed my media ticket to them and told them we have the **exact** same cards(obviously since we were inseparable as husband and wife on the same itinerary in a foreign country and thus needed the exact same media) I told them just take my ticket and read or scan it and whatever is on there just duplicate..... even more credibility. Obviously we weren't 20 year old starving US college students backpacking and staying in youth hostels looking to save some yen by trying to pull a fast one. Sometimes it better to forget the rules in the name of equity, justice and fairness. They should have just accepted our word and replaced the "Shiriki Utundo" ticket without the unpleasantries and hassles.
