Buying tickets w/fast passes vs. under the table

[Cherrymadison33]

Hello everyone!

We are first-timers to Disney (technically I went to MK, Universal Studies and Epcot as a kid), but the first time hubby, me and our three kids will be going. Kids are ages 8, 2, and 1. We've booked at AoA in January, and we lucked up with a pretty good price with the Gift of Magic offer before everything sold out.

Our dilemma (if you can call it that), is that I held off on buying tickets (we would want 2-day tickets for MK and AK to use over a 5-day stay) because we have a friend who can get us very cheap tickets on the low. Problem is they would not come with Fast Pass. Tickets would be $55 pp. for a 1-day (It is a very trustworthy and proven source so please move past any hesitations about whether the discount tickets are legit).

However, we've done a lot of research the past few weeks and feel like without Fast Passes, we're not sure if the trip would even be worth it. Crowd sizes should be lower in January but we don't want to spend most of the trip waiting in line.

Then again with the discount tickets we would save a considerable amount of $$$, but we also don't want to fly all the way down there just to get into the park but not have much control over what we can ride with the Fast Pass. We are also staying in a Disney resort so enjoying the EMH would help too.

BUT... it also seems like now is the perfect time to buy tickets with FP because we'd be at the 60-day out mark and could get our hands on some good passes to the best rides (also a benefit of staying at AoA that I feel like we would be sacrificing a bit).

What say you all?

 

[siren0119]

AFAIK there is no such thing as Walt Disney World tickets that DON'T include fastpass. It's not a paid add-on like it is at Disneyworld, Fastpasses are just part of the deal with all Disneyworld tickets. Are you sure the tickets you are being offered are for DisneyWORLD and not DisneyLAND in california?

 

[Heather07438]

The $55 tickets come with no FPs at all, not even on the day you visit the park?

It's most likely you're dealing with a smaller window, but should be able to use the FP system.

 

[Cherrymadison33]

Apparently they are no Fast Pass because we couldn't get them until the day of, at the gate essentially. They are definitely for Disney World.

But it is possible that they do have Fast Pass, but because we get them so late we couldn't use them for any of the popular rides.

I'll have to verify that as that was kind of unclear. But I assume that not having FP 60 days out effectively makes them useless if you don't get them until the day of. We would still try to do EMH that day though. There are morning hours the day we want to go.

 

[SG131]

Apparently they are no Fast Pass because we couldn't get them until the day of, at the gate essentially. They are definitely for Disney World.

But it is possible that they do have Fast Pass, but because we get them so late we couldn't use them for any of the popular rides.

I'll have to verify that as that was kind of unclear. But I assume that not having FP 60 days out effectively makes them useless if you don't get them until the day of. We would still try to do EMH that day though. There are morning hours the day we want to go.

Sounds like the plan is to use a cast members free passes. Even with those tickets FP can be booked but not until the day of. So it will still help with some rides. Not headliners like mine train. Some of the other rides if you check constantly you may be able to pick up eventually. Just be careful because an employee can get fired for doing this.

 

[siren0119]

Apparently they are no Fast Pass because we couldn't get them until the day of, at the gate essentially. They are definitely for Disney World.

But it is possible that they do have Fast Pass, but because we get them so late we couldn't use them for any of the popular rides.

I'll have to verify that as that was kind of unclear. But I assume that not having FP 60 days out effectively makes them useless if you don't get them until the day of. We would still try to do EMH that day though. There are morning hours the day we want to go.

You can absolutely book fastpasses for the rides if they are available - and if you have valid tickets you can book fastpasses 30 days in advance regardless of when you buy them. That's the Disneyworld system. EVERY ticket has fastpasses included, and whether you can book them at 60 days or 30 days is ONLY dependent on where you are staying (onsite/Disney springs official hotels get 60 day fastpass booking, everyone else gets 30 day)

When we went in August we ONLY had a one day pass and we were staying offsite. We were able to book fastpasses at 30 days. Yes it makes getting the big ticket rides harder, but it's not impossible. Folks here have been able to book big ticket ride FP while they were in the park for later in the day. Fastpasses are not useless even if they are for the less popular rides - they're a time saver unless the standby line for the ride is a walk-on.

 

[siren0119]

Sounds like the plan is to use a cast members free passes. Even with those tickets FP can be booked but not until the day of. So it will still help with some rides. Not headliners like mine train. Some of the other rides if you check constantly you may be able to pick up eventually. Just be careful because an employee can get fired for doing this.

So a cast member is SELLING their free passes? I hope that's not the case.

 

[dlavender]

Hello everyone!

We are first-timers to Disney (technically I went to MK, Universal Studies and Epcot as a kid), but the first time hubby, me and our three kids will be going. Kids are ages 8, 2, and 1. We've booked at AoA in January, and we lucked up with a pretty good price with the Gift of Magic offer before everything sold out.

Our dilemma (if you can call it that), is that I held off on buying tickets (we would want 2-day tickets for MK and AK to use over a 5-day stay) because we have a friend who can get us very cheap tickets on the low. Problem is they would not come with Fast Pass. Tickets would be $55 pp. for a 1-day (It is a very trustworthy and proven source so please move past any hesitations about whether the discount tickets are legit).

However, we've done a lot of research the past few weeks and feel like without Fast Passes, we're not sure if the trip would even be worth it. Crowd sizes should be lower in January but we don't want to spend most of the trip waiting in line.

Then again with the discount tickets we would save a considerable amount of $$$, but we also don't want to fly all the way down there just to get into the park but not have much control over what we can ride with the Fast Pass. We are also staying in a Disney resort so enjoying the EMH would help too.

BUT... it also seems like now is the perfect time to buy tickets with FP because we'd be at the 60-day out mark and could get our hands on some good passes to the best rides (also a benefit of staying at AoA that I feel like we would be sacrificing a bit).

What say you all?

You should be able to do day of fast passes. I dont think scheduling 3 out is worth an extra $60 per person.
Get there an hour before rope drop and you will be able to knock out a few headliners. Or, use the extra money to book EMM if it’s available. For about the same price you’d be paying to get different tickets for 3 FPs, you could knock out a whole land.

 

[Cherrymadison33]

Okay. They said I wouldn't be able to get the tickets until at the gate, but maybe I can ask that they be mailed to me to get ahead on the FP+.

ETA: That sounds like a great idea DLavender! I will see if there are EMM, which I think there is for AK.

 

[Heather07438]

Apparently they are no Fast Pass because we couldn't get them until the day of, at the gate essentially. They are definitely for Disney World.

But it is possible that they do have Fast Pass, but because we get them so late we couldn't use them for any of the popular rides.

I'll have to verify that as that was kind of unclear. But I assume that not having FP 60 days out effectively makes them useless if you don't get them until the day of. We would still try to do EMH that day though. There are morning hours the day we want to go.

With the Tier system at EP & HS (all the good rides are tier 1 so they are 1 per customer), there should be some decent ones left even that morning.

Our trip we couldn't get SDD, 7DMT or FoP until 63 days out anyway.

Youll have some disadvantage but your FPs will still be workable. Even MK where there are no tiers won't be a huge disadvantage because there are so many rides to distribute FP.

If I were you and wanted to save on the tickets, I'd show up for ropedrop and do some big rides, then keep checking to see what switches could be made to better rides from your FP selections. You'd be surprised at how many good FP rides/times get dropped along the day. They're easy to pick up if you keep refreshing, and the smaller you party size the more options you will have for a ride.

 

[TinkSassy]

If not available until the gate - you will only have trouble with the big 3 7DMT, FoP and SDD. If you get there at open you should be fine for everything else with a little planning.

 

[Heather07438]

I've also seen Big Thunder at MK have no availability on a busy day, but that doesn't mean you couldn't pick up FPs that were dropped along the day. Ropedrop and getting on a line at closing could help you fill the gaps as well.

Rumor has it WDW drops batches of FPs for high demand rides thru the day too, probably to help people in your situation who only made FP that day.

 

[Heather07438]

Okay. They said I wouldn't be able to get the tickets until at the gate, but maybe I can ask that they be mailed to me to get ahead on the FP+.

ETA: That sounds like a great idea DLavender! I will see if there are EMM, which I think there is for AK.

Yes, you can splurge on an upgrade with the ticket money saved. Good idea. I think your FPs will still be workable even if you are limited to choosing that day.

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

I'm still a little confused as to why you have to wait day of. I have discounted and I easily added them to My Disney Experience along with my hotel reservation. Which with you being on AoA should get you the 60 day FP.

 

[Alesia]

Tickets would be $55 pp. for a 1-day (It is a very trustworthy and proven source so please move past any hesitations about whether the discount tickets are legit).

Legit tickets are never, ever discounted this much. You are buying from a CM who is selling their main gate pass. If they get caught, they will be fired and you will have to buy tickets at gate price.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Okay. Selling Guest Pass entitlements is against policy for CMs. CMs also don’t hand over physical Guest Passes to anyone so there’d be no way to book FPs for a park day because Guest Passes are permanently linked to the CM and their MDX account.

Closing as discussing circumventing Disney policy is not allowed.