Well, we were lucky enough again this past holiday season to celebrate both Christmas and the ringing in of the New Year with our families and about 100,000 of our nearest and dearest friends. With the crowds that reign down upon the happiest place on Earth during the holidays one can be particularly appreciative of anything that saves you time or gets you through a line faster. This is the PERFECT time to take advantage of Disney’s patented Fastpass system.
Fastpass was first utilized by Disney in 1999 and is a sort of virtual “line” for guests. High volume attractions have a system of kiosks that are set aside to dispense Fastpasses. Here’s how it works:
1. Find the attraction that you’re interested in and find out if it is one that participates in the Fastpass system. It’s important to note that NOT ALL attractions use Fastpass. Those that will typically kill you with 90 or 120 minute waits (can you say Toy Story Mania?) will be those that participate.
2. Take note on the overhead sign of what the time frame is that the current Fastpasses are being issued in (they are issued for one hour time spans i.e. – 10:40am to 11:40am). If passes are currently being issued starting at 5:40pm and you have a priority seating for dinner at 5:30pm, it may not be the best time to get one.
3. Insert your park ticket into the Fastpass kiosk and you’ll get a Fastpass for the time noted on the overhead board.
4. Return to the attraction during the time frame noted on your Fastpass and enter the Fastpass line
5. Have FUN!!!
Sounds easy? It is! There are a few things to note about Fastpass though:
- They can and sometimes DO (say Toy Story Mania AGAIN) run out. As many have seen recently, a new and hot attraction like Toy Story Mania may have the Fastpasses for the entire day run out by 11am and those getting them at 10am may have a return time of 8pm.
- From the time that you obtain a Fastpass, you’ll have to wait a short time to get your next one. This is to prevent people from bouncing all over the place and getting a million of them. Check the bottom of your Fastpass for the time that you’ll be able to get your next one.
- Sometimes, along with the Fastpass that you want to get from the machine, you might get another one as well. In other words, while getting one for Tower of Terror, it might also spit out one for Lights, Motors, Action! You’re not high from the popcorn butter, this is just Disney’s way of working the park traffic to spread things out when it’s getting too heavy in one area or another.
- Yes, you can sometimes use a Fastpass even after the time frame has passed. Lots of people have used 5:40pm – 6:40pm Fastpasses at 8pm but this is never guaranteed! Per the rules, you’re supposed to use them in the time frame printed on them.
There, I think that about covers it. Trust us, Fastpass is a GREAT way to save you and your family time and maximize your park hours to see as much as possible. It may seem intimidating at first but once you get there and see how things work you’ll become a pro in no time!!!
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