Can someone explain the "secrets" to using the fastpass??

[PooohBear]

I have read numerous threads about using the pastpass with a strategy, is there some secret to using it ??

 

[mmeb144]

No secret. Just get one and ride something else close by while you wait for your window to use the fastpass. For example, get a fastpass for Splash Mountain and ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad while you wait for your fastpass window. It's fun, like doing two things at once.

Marie

 

[tiberius]

Disney says (or at least used to) that you can't get another Fast Pass until you ride the ride. Actually, you can't get another until the start of the Fast Pass time window. So, if you pass another ride you want a Fast Pass ticket for on the way to your ride. Then go ahead and get another Fast Pass for the second ride.

 

[sunny04]

The strategy is about which ride to get them for and when. For example, you enter MK first thing...most people will hit the closer rides first, so get a FastPass for Space Mountian or Peter Pan, then head back to Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain to ride. The main key to Fastpasses is, if there is no line, or a short wait, just get on! Don't get a fastpass unless you have to, because you can't get another one for a long time. Just think things through a little...decide which ones will be the busiest, and get the fastpass for that ride. They are really great if you can work them right. My husband and I haven't waited longer than 30 min. since our first trip - we've learned!

 

[bobcat]

The key is to always have one.If you are eating have a fastpass. If you are riding have a fastpass. If you are waiting for a parade have a fastpass.

Also make sure to check when you can get a new fastpass. During certain times the time you can get a new fastpass is earlier than your ride time.

 

[SCOTTNJ]

You learn something new on every trip. When you get to the park at 9am, the fast passes are usually set for about 50 minutes later......You will get a fast pass will state 9:50 - 10:50. At the bottom of the fast pass, it will say that at 9:55 (usually 5 minutes past your start window) you can get another fast pass. They is a clock on every fastpass entrance . The person at the door will not let you in one minute before the window and the clocks were pretty accurate to my cell phone.

Here is what I learned on this most recent trip. The fastpasses that state 9:50 - 10:50 DO NOT EXPIRE AT 10:50!!!!!! You can use them at 7pm that night if you wish.

On the very first day of our trip, I went to get a fastpass for Test Track. The window was right in the middle of of scheduled lunch in Japan. I asked the attendant how leniant it was with the return time and she informed me that the fastpass would be good any time AFTER the window open. I was shocked because I never heard that before.

I always made sure that whenever I was allowed to get a fastpass, I got a fastpass for somewhere.

We used fastpasses that were well beyond the window for the rest of the trip and never had anyone not let us in line. Used it at all four parks and not a problem at any. It actually worked better for us. We had gotten fast passes early in the day for tower of terror and ended up using them for one quick ride at night before fantasmic.

 

[ttfn3]

I second what the last post says. In October, we missed our Fastpass window of time for Test Track - we were touring the WS during our afternoon time. Later that evening we were near Test Track, so I asked the CM if we could use the fastpass then and they said yes. I felt better being upfront and asking the CM.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Before getting in line for a ride, ALWAYS check the fastpast for that ride. A few times we've happened upon where the current distrubed FP's are the same as the current time OR only a few minutes away, and the standby line was 30-40 minutes... lucky for us, bad for the people in line. I've had this happen at WDW and Universal.

 

[swilphil]

You learn something new on every trip. When you get to the park at 9am, the fast passes are usually set for about 50 minutes later......You will get a fast pass will state 9:50 - 10:50. At the bottom of the fast pass, it will say that at 9:55 (usually 5 minutes past your start window) you can get another fast pass.

Because the time you are given to get the next fastpass is always 5 minutes after your first fastpass allotted time, I always get a second fast pass before I go to use my first fastpass. So if I'm eligible to get a second fastpass at 9:55 a.m., according to the time on my first fastpass, then I will go get my second fast pass and go to use my first fastpass after 9:55.

So when I'm riding my first fastpass ride, I always have a second fastpass in my pocket. This especially works well early in the day and will probably work well for the new Evening EMH.

The other suggestion would be to get Fastpasses for the most popular rides first. They tend to get longer lines as well as return times much later in the day.

As far as using your fastpass after your given return time, the CM's are good about that, especially if it's just a short period of time, but it's always a good idea to ask the CM when you get your FP. There have been reports that CM's on some rides won't allow you to do this unless the ride has been broken down. Plus if too many people do it, then everyone will end up waiting longer in the fastpass line.

 

[tjmw2727]

The fastpass now has the time you can get a new FP printed on the bottom so no more guesswork. I also get the new FP before using the current most of the time.

I must also share that I have been turned away from a ride with an "expired" fast pass. My dd's and I missed our return window by about 30 minutes due to a PS snaffu and were not allowed to ride.

I know others have been allowed but since the FP clearly states the return time I would not count on using an expired fastpass as a "stragegy". If you legitimately miss your time there is no harm in checking but my advice is if you really want to see the attraction then you should arrive within the FP window.

TJ

 

[Suzanne033]

The advice I was given, and it works, was if you are entering a park in the morning, ALWAYS get a fastpass for one of the 'big rides' for that park (ie. Safari at AK, Space Mountain at MK, Test Track or Mission Space at Epcot or Tower of Terror at MGM) no matter how big the line is. Because even if you the wait is 5 minutes and the ride is 10 minutes. That's 15 minutes that the rest of the crowd will be going to the other big rides in that park.

 

[lark]

I guess one of the implicit themes in this thread, though, is to not get a fastpass too far out into the future. If it's 10:00 a.m., and the fastpass time for a ride is 4:00 to 5:00, think very carefully about getting this fastpass, because it will disqualify you from getting one for any other ride until 4:05.

 

[tjmw2727]

I guess one of the implicit themes in this thread, though, is to not get a fastpass too far out into the future. If it's 10:00 a.m., and the fastpass time for a ride is 4:00 to 5:00, think very carefully about getting this fastpass, because it will disqualify you from getting one for any other ride until 4:05.

Luckily you are incorrect - you can get a new FP 5 minutes after the start of your ride window or in two hours, whichever is less. The most you will ever have to wait to obtain a new FP is two hours and most times it is less. Before you get the FP the kiosk will indicate the current return times. Use the earliest time + 5 minutes or 2 hours for your estimated time to get another FP to decide if you want the FP. Occasionally your time to get a new FP printed will be less but consider that a bonus!

So in your example you get a FP at 10am and the return time is 4-5 you will be able to get a new FP at 12:00 at the latest.

Have fun
TJ


TJ

 

[robinb]

I guess one of the implicit themes in this thread, though, is to not get a fastpass too far out into the future. If it's 10:00 a.m., and the fastpass time for a ride is 4:00 to 5:00, think very carefully about getting this fastpass, because it will disqualify you from getting one for any other ride until 4:05.

I'm happy to sat that is not true! You can get another FP either 5 minutes into your next FP window or 2 hours after you pick up your last FP, whichever comes first. Of course, if it's that crowded and you're getting a FP for 6 hours later it's quite likely that all the FPs will be gone by the time you can get another one.

 

[Suzanne033]

Let me see if I am getting this straight.

At 9am, I get a FP for Space Mountain with a return time of 4pm. At 11am, I get another FP for Splash Mountain with a return time of, say, 2pm. At 1pm, I get another FP for BTMRR with a return time of 3pm. So at 2pm I can go ride Splash Mountain, at 3pm I can go ride BTMRR and at 4pm I can go ride Space Mountain.

Getting and using another FP doesn't cancel the first ones?

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes, you got it right. And, getting your next fastpass does not cancel the ones you already have.

(They do not know when you actually use the fastpass, the faspasses upon collection at the ride boarding area are simply thrown away excpet on rare occasions when statistics are gathered.)

I suggest getting your first fastpass for what you think will be a very busy ride. One hour later, even if the printed time for your next fastpass is the maximum two hours away, try for a fastpass at a less busy ride. If this fails, no harm done. If this succeeds, try for your third fastpass at a "more busy" ride one hour after getting the second.

I see no disadvantage in getting a fastpass for a ride when the ride time is way off in the future. When you can get the second (or third etc.) fastpass depends on the crowds at the ride it is for, not the ride the previous fastpass is for.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/fastnext.htm

 

[lark]

I'm happy to sat that is not true! You can get another FP either 5 minutes into your next FP window or 2 hours after you pick up your last FP, whichever comes first. Of course, if it's that crowded and you're getting a FP for 6 hours later it's quite likely that all the FPs will be gone by the time you can get another one.

Interesting -- that's good to know. My guidebook is incorrect.

 

[PooohBear]

Wow this is the best information yet !!! Thanks so much everyone !! I always thought when you got a new fastpass that it canceled the old one !!!

 

[lllovell]

Something that we have done in the past for rides that the kids really LOVE is get a fastpass and then go and actually get in line and wait. If its early in the morning and they are dying to ride Buzz for example, it usually works out perfectly that we can stand in line, ride and then walk right by through and ride again with our fastpass.

Have the rules changed about the number of fast passes you can possess? I thought (obviously incorrectly) that you could not get one until 5 minutes after the one you are holding was good. (seems like we tried this in the past when we got a late day fastpass without looking first to see what time they were for and we could not get another one for a long time ) I also thought you could have no more than 2 at a time (so the get one for 6 pm at 11 and then one at 1 and then one at 3, etc example would not be valid). sooooo - they finally have made the changes the promised to the fast pass system????? I hope so!

 

[jmclester]

Let me see if I am getting this straight.

At 9am, I get a FP for Space Mountain with a return time of 4pm. At 11am, I get another FP for Splash Mountain with a return time of, say, 2pm. At 1pm, I get another FP for BTMRR with a return time of 3pm. So at 2pm I can go ride Splash Mountain, at 3pm I can go ride BTMRR and at 4pm I can go ride Space Mountain.

Getting and using another FP doesn't cancel the first ones?

You are correct.