Explain Fast pass to me

[digskat]

Feeling like a newbie haven't been to Disney in about 3 years, we have tickets from a trip in 2005 that need to be used up and we are staying offsite. Just wondering if we are gonna be euchred for our trip in 3 weeks with regards to booking fast passes. And what site do you use for the bookings. I know it's going to be busy but don't want to wait hours for rides. If we do its C'est la vie I guess

 

[alc571]

They have Fastpass+ now which is different from the old system. Now you book your fastpasses in advance of your vacation (if staying onsite, and potentially offsite in the future) or you have to visit one of the Fastpass+ locations inside the park to make your reservations for the same day. You get three per day, and only in one park (no hopping). Epcot and Hollywood Studios have a tiering system where you only get to pick one of the headliners. Magic Kingdom does not. I don't know about Animal Kingdom, as I haven't been there under the new system.

Hope this helps.

 

[mtmbyck]

We are there is 3 weeks also and staying offsite and like you I have had to ask questions and research it to figure out how it will work. In a nutshell, it's going to be much LESS convenient than you remember (machine at rides and tickets with times that weren't necessarily honoured so you could stockpile a bunch and ride using fast passes all evening).

Touring plans.com had a great explanation as well as detailed info on where the kiosks are and how many you can have but what you need to know is this:
As a non-resort guest, there will be a few fastpass ride times left (especially during March Break on popular rides) and the most anyone can have in a day is 3 total of any combination of rides. Resort guests have been able to reserve their ride times for a few months before they go.
Some parks tier the use so you can only have 1 fastpass for the whole day from a group of rides - it is not possible to have a fastpass for Toy Story mania and Rock N Roller Coaster in a day.
While it will be my first time trying it in 3 weeks, I have a plan to arrive for rope drop, ride the 3 or 4 best and favourite rides, get fast passes for the afternoon (when crowds are painful) and do shows in between.
They also offer fast passes for fireworks, parades and shows but this uses up one of your 3 choices for the day.

That is what I've learned so far. Not really a fan but maybe I will be when I see it in action. Good luck!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

It might not be as bad as it sounds. Instead of going to each ride to grab FastPasses one at a time, you will go to one of several kiosks and get your FastPass+ reservations all at once. You will also be able to choose your return times, unlike the old FastPass system where you got whatever return time was printed on your paper ticket. And if your plans change, you can edit your FastPass reservations at any kiosk (or maybe using the smartphone app).

So far I haven't heard of anyone not getting the FastPasses they want, as long as they went to the kiosks early in the day. The 60-day advanced booking window for on-site guests versus same-day booking for off-site guests isn't a factor if you're booking FastPass+ close to rope drop.

 

[damo]

The best advice seems to be to get to the park at rope drop. Go directly to a kiosk and book your 3 passes for later in the day at the same park. Then go ride everything you can while crowds are low. You can only book 3 passes per day and they must be at the same park and if you are booking at a kiosk you can only book passes for the park you are in.