Disney Hotel Guest Fast Passes are fabulous!

[handyl03]

We just got back from a stay at the Grand Californian - when you stay at a Disney hotel right now they're giving each member of your party a special fast pass that can be used for your choice of 2 fast pass rides or a special line for the Little Mermaid ride. The passes that they give you are like a Disneyland paper ticket, they're not actual fast passes - they are printed with the fastpass info on one side and you have to insert them into the fast pass machines to get your actual fast pass ticket. You can use these on any ride that has fast pass access not just Star Tours or the Little Mermaid special line.
The best part is that no matter what the stated fast pass return time is at the ride when you use your special ticket to get a fast pass the return time will be for the next hour after your ticket prints out! So if the Star Tours fast pass return time at the ride reads 6pm and you're at the fast pass kiosk at 9am your fast pass will print out a ticket with a return time of 9am - 10am - you get to go straight on the ride!! And you can get a second fast pass with your actual park ticket or annual pass for the posted return time of 6pm! The castmembers will also give you both fast passess from your special ticket at once for the same ride if you want to ride twice - we were asked at Star Tours if we wanted all of the fast passess at once. We walked right into the main entrance with our fast passes and maybe waited 5-10 minutes - the standby lines were 90 minutes!

Don't waste your tickets for the Little Mermaid - the lines were always 15-20 minutes while we were there - it seems to constantly move.

 

[narsel]

Awesome, that was going to be our plan as well. 22 days and counting!!!!!

 

[WDWINJUNE!]

Great to hear...definitely can't wait to use them when we go in 12 days!!

 

[Dobie]

I totally agree! Fabulous!

 

[catislander]

Do you know if the fast passes are only for regular guests or are they for DVC members too?

 

[alyssa810]

Do you know if the fast passes are only for regular guests or are they for DVC members too?

I'm curious too!! I would think we -DVC members- should count too if they're for all hotel guests.

 

[sierranevada]

So cool! I thought they might work like the "readmittance pass" but these sound much better!! Can wait to try it out later this month.

 

[Nonsuch]

Do you know if the fast passes are only for regular guests or are they for DVC members too?

DVC members also receive the passes. I stayed in a Grand Villa on June 3, the first day of this fast pass promotion, and received 24 passes

Initially, 2 special fastpasses were given to each resort guests and there was no need to visit the fastpass machines. This might have made it difficult for Disney to control the length of the Fastpass line.

The new system makes it easier to track usage of the "special fastpass"

 

[TeddiBarra]

Initially, 2 special fastpasses were given to each resort guests and there was no need to visit the fastpass machines. This might have made it difficult for Disney to control the length of the Fastpass line.

I find the switch over very interesting. HMmm. Makes me think that this MAY mean that DLR will be doing this more often in the future, as a perk for staying onsite/booking packages thru WDTC. They did a big research survey last year at DLR and was asking about things like this.

I wont be surprised at all to see the "special fast passes" for DLR hotel guests extended past Sept, or used again very soon. LETs HOPE cuz I LOVED IT.

 

[mika911]

Do you guys know if you get them if staying even just one night?

I ask because I have a split stay coming up. 1 Night at two hotels.

Hopefully I'll get 2 for each person, for each night since they are different hotels and reservation numbers!


Also...if fast passes (regular ones) have run out I'm guessing that means you cannot use these since the machine will be closed?

 

[alyssa810]

How long is this going on for? I'm just wondering if we'll be able to enjoy it, or if the promo will be over before we're there.

 

[sierranevada]

How long is this going on for? I'm just wondering if we'll be able to enjoy it, or if the promo will be over before we're there.

My info says Sept 5th for room only reservations. And they have a new offer if you book minimum of 4 nights

Save Up to $450 on a 4-Night/3-Day Package

Save up to $450* when you buy a 4-night hotel, 3-day ticket package at a Disneyland Resort Hotel and receive a free Character Dining experience per person, per reservation**!
Receive 2 Special Disney's FASTPASS Tickets
And if you stay at one of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels between now and September 5, receive 2 Disney's FASTPASS tickets** for each person in your travel party, per stay. These special, hotel Guest-only Disney's FASTPASS tickets can be used in addition to Disney's FASTPASS tickets available in the parks at any time at most Disney's FASTPASS attraction.
Blast off with 50 new story combinations on Star Tours or ride other Disney's FASTPASS attractions. Holders of this unique Disney's FASTPASS ticket also gain special access to The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure.
Availability
To check availability:
Select Book Your Visit
Choose the 4 nights for your stay and click on Find Prices
Select 3-Day Ticket in Vacation Preferences in the Lower Right Column.
Click on Get New Offer
To confirm that this special offer is available, look for "Summer/Fall Free Character Meal Offer" after the "Special Offers:" label on the "Vacation Offers" page.
Dates
Valid for arrivals most nights from August 14, 2011 through September 28. 2011 with travel completed by October 2, 2011. Book by September 24, 2011.

 

[StarTink]

I just miss getting the fast passes. We check in on 09/10. Crossing my fingers that they will extend the promotion.

 

[sonnyjane]

OP, thanks for the explanation. I'm staying at PPH in two weeks and am looking forward to these passes. Do you know if you can still ride if they run out of FP's? Mainly on Star Tours, if it's noon and they are out of FP's, is there any way to still ride? Sounds like you need to use the FP machines and they usually cover them when they run out.

 

[marcemc]

How long is this going on for? I'm just wondering if we'll be able to enjoy it, or if the promo will be over before we're there.

So am I, keeping our fingers crossed that they offer them during december

 

[Nonsuch]

I ask because I have a split stay coming up. 1 Night at two hotels.

Hopefully I'll get 2 for each person, for each night since they are different hotels and reservation numbers!

I think you will receive passes for every name on your reservation at each hotel

 

[blackjackdelta]

We just got back from a stay at the Grand Californian - when you stay at a Disney hotel right now they're giving each member of your party a special fast pass that can be used for your choice of 2 fast pass rides or a special line for the Little Mermaid ride. The passes that they give you are like a Disneyland paper ticket, they're not actual fast passes - they are printed with the fastpass info on one side and you have to insert them into the fast pass machines to get your actual fast pass ticket. You can use these on any ride that has fast pass access not just Star Tours or the Little Mermaid special line.
The best part is that no matter what the stated fast pass return time is at the ride when you use your special ticket to get a fast pass the return time will be for the next hour after your ticket prints out! So if the Star Tours fast pass return time at the ride reads 6pm and you're at the fast pass kiosk at 9am your fast pass will print out a ticket with a return time of 9am - 10am - you get to go straight on the ride!! And you can get a second fast pass with your actual park ticket or annual pass for the posted return time of 6pm! The castmembers will also give you both fast passess from your special ticket at once for the same ride if you want to ride twice - we were asked at Star Tours if we wanted all of the fast passess at once. We walked right into the main entrance with our fast passes and maybe waited 5-10 minutes - the standby lines were 90 minutes!

Don't waste your tickets for the Little Mermaid - the lines were always 15-20 minutes while we were there - it seems to constantly move.

Totally agree, absolutley excellent.

Jack

 

[cpster]

Also...if fast passes (regular ones) have run out I'm guessing that means you cannot use these since the machine will be closed?

We recently used the special fast pass late at night for Star Tours after the normal fast passes were all gone. There was one fast pass machine way to the right that was not covered labeled something linke "Disneyland Resort" that was still open for use. Unfortunately on that night the fast pass line was still like 45 minutes long so hubby wound up giving his away as DD was very sleepy. Try to use them when the fast pass line is short.

 

[andrewilley]

Are they dated? I'll be staying the Disneyland Hotel for two days, then moving hotels, do I need to use them during my first two days (I assume so) or I can hold them back a bit?

Andre

 

[nancy drew]

Do you get two FP per person per stay or per day? I'm assuming per stay, right? We are doing a split stay, moving between PPH and DLH, so if it is per stay so will we get new ones when we move hotels?