Fast Pass

[altamamma]

We are going to DL for our first time in 15 years and I was just wondering how exactly the Fast Passes work? Where/how do we get them?

 

[Loomis]

I never actually had to use a FastPass... we may have just been incredibly lucky (it was the second week in September), but we managed to either walk straight into every ride or have a maximum 15 minutes waiting (the SECOND time we went on Indiana Jones).

The official word on FASTPASS:

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/help/gsDetail?name=FastPassGSDetailPage

# Look for the FASTPASS® distribution area near the entrance of an attraction (check the complete list of attractions that accept FASTPASS® below)
# Check the FASTPASS® “Return Time” display which gives you a span of time during which you can explore the Park before returning to board the attraction.
# If the Return Time is sufficient for your plans, just insert your Disneyland® Resort admission ticket, readmission ticket or Annual Passport into the machine.
# A FASTPASS® ticket will emerge with your Return Time printed on it. Now you're free to go and enjoy the rest of the Park.
# Go back to the FASTPASS® Return queue when your return time rolls around, show your FASTPASS® ticket to Cast Member at the entrance, and enjoy the attraction with a minimal wait.

 

[altamamma]

That's great! Thank you for the info!

 

[iceskatejen]

While that's the "official" word, there's lots of unofficial things to know. For example, while you can't use your FP early, you can use it any time after your window opens. That means that if your FP window is from 2-3pm, that's actually 2pm until park closing. Also, there is one attraction in each park that's not connected to the rest of the FP attractions. In DL it's Roger Rabbit and in DCA it's Grizzly River. This means, you can get a FP for either of those and hold a FP for any other FP attraction at the same time. Also the two parks are not connected to eachother, so, if you are park hopping, you can hold multiple FPs for each park.

 

[altamamma]

Also the two parks are not connected to eachother, so, if you are park hopping, you can hold multiple FPs for each park.

That reminds me of my other question ~~ LOL! I feel like a Disney Dunce here!

I just booked the trip, we got 5-day park hopper tickets, we aren't going until Feb but I've been wondering about this too... If we left the park(s) to go back to the hotel, would we still be able to get back into DL later that evening? If I remember correctly from the last time I was at Six Flags (about 10 years ago) if we had to leave the park they stamped your hand... so I'm assuming DL does the same sort of thing?

 

[CalGal]

Yup altamamma; same thing. You need to show your park hoppers and your hand stamp to return. A computer reads the parkhopper and knows that you are re-entering, so you won't be charged a new day. The same approach is used for hopping back and forth between DL and DCA. You will only have to get your hand stamped the first time you leave one of the parks.

There are VERY rare occassions when re-admission could be stopped due to capacity crowds. You won't have to worry about that.

 

[Loomis]

While that's the "official" word, there's lots of unofficial things to know.

Fair enough...

As I said, I never actually had to use them, although the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764583425/) was invaluable in getting around the Park in the right order. From memory, there is about 6 pages on the ins and outs of FastPass usage. You might want to borrow or buy a copy (or consult the very knowledgable people of this board)! Very comprehensive though...

 

[altamamma]

You guys are awesome! Thank you so much!!

 

[HydroGuy]

We are going to DL for our first time in 15 years and I was just wondering how exactly the Fast Passes work? Where/how do we get them?

My FastPass thesis has a lot of FP info if you care to get details. See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132.

 

[altamamma]

My FastPass thesis has a lot of FP info if you care to get details. See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132.

Holy Smokes! That's beautiful! Thank you

 

[Brina78]

Here's an interesting FP experience my family and I had this past Friday. At 2 p.m. after park hopping from DCA, we went over to Space Mountain to check out the line. It was a 45 minute wait and the weather was too hot to stand in that outdoor, zig-zagging line. The FP is the best for Space Mountain because there usually isn't a line for it. The FP line takes you right up to the entrance where you then jog all the way down toward the final room of the boarding zone. But, getting back to us, the FP time read we had to return between 9:40 and 10:40 p.m.! This did not sit well with us, but I suggested we do it anyway and come back later. I'm so glad we decided to do that. The CM told my stepmom that, for every 100 FP's distributed, the time moves up another five minutes. We had a choice to either stand in the heat for 45 minutes or return later with a FP and only wait for about 10 minutes. We got the FP's and left.

I told everyone (dad, stepmom and sister) about the experience Mom and I had a few months back where we had a FP for Indiana Jones and couldn't get one for Space Mountain at the same time. So, we avoided getting FP's and tried to get on rides via the Stand-by lines.

At around 5:50 p.m., it was getting ridiculous because the lines were too long for everything! Standing outside of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (the Stand-by line was near the entrance and we were so bummed!), I decided to attempt getting an FP. The FP came out and said to return to BTMR between 6:35 and 7:35! And, of course, we still had our FP's for Space Mountain! I asked the CM at BTMR how it was possible and he said people can get additional FP's after a certain time. Because it was after 4 p.m., it was okay to get a FP for BTMR and still have the other one for Space Mountain! We hung around the area until 6:35 and then ZOOMED down the FP line until we were very close to the boarding zone for BTMR! I swear by those FP goldmines. Oh, and as for Space Mountain, it was only a 15 minute wait. We flew by everyone and was near the final door in no time!

 

[HydroGuy]

Here's an interesting FP experience my family and I had this past Friday. At 2 p.m. after park hopping from DCA, we went over to Space Mountain to check out the line. It was a 45 minute wait and the weather was too hot to stand in that outdoor, zig-zagging line. The FP is the best for Space Mountain because there usually isn't a line for it. The FP line takes you right up to the entrance where you then jog all the way down toward the final room of the boarding zone. But, getting back to us, the FP time read we had to return between 9:40 and 10:40 p.m.! This did not sit well with us, but I suggested we do it anyway and come back later. I'm so glad we decided to do that. The CM told my stepmom that, for every 100 FP's distributed, the time moves up another five minutes. We had a choice to either stand in the heat for 45 minutes or return later with a FP and only wait for about 10 minutes. We got the FP's and left.

I told everyone (dad, stepmom and sister) about the experience Mom and I had a few months back where we had a FP for Indiana Jones and couldn't get one for Space Mountain at the same time. So, we avoided getting FP's and tried to get on rides via the Stand-by lines.

At around 5:50 p.m., it was getting ridiculous because the lines were too long for everything! Standing outside of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (the Stand-by line was near the entrance and we were so bummed!), I decided to attempt getting an FP. The FP came out and said to return to BTMR between 6:35 and 7:35! And, of course, we still had our FP's for Space Mountain! I asked the CM at BTMR how it was possible and he said people can get additional FP's after a certain time. Because it was after 4 p.m., it was okay to get a FP for BTMR and still have the other one for Space Mountain! We hung around the area until 6:35 and then ZOOMED down the FP line until we were very close to the boarding zone for BTMR! I swear by those FP goldmines. Oh, and as for Space Mountain, it was only a 15 minute wait. We flew by everyone and was near the final door in no time!

This is how FP works and is no surprise to anyone who has done a little research. For the benefit of others, my link above to my previous FP topic discusses all of this in depth.