FastPass 101

[WeLoveThePoly]

I’d like to make sure I understand how the FastPass system works. We haven’t used the system much during our previous trips and I’d like to take full advantage of the system during our trip this year.

Example #1:
It’s 10am and we are at Splash Mountain
(There is a Standby Line with a wait of 40 minutes)
There is a FastPass Return Time of 11am-12pm

I get a FP and once 11am hits I can get another FP (either for SM or another attraction) before I use the FP I got at 10am for SM. Is that correct?

Example #2:
It’s 1pm and we are at Test Track
(There is a Standby Line with a wait of 75 minutes)
There is a FastPass Return Time of 5pm-6pm

I get a FP and once 2 hours pass (3pm) I can get another FP (either for TT or another attraction) even though I still have a FP that won't be active until 5pm. Is that correct?


I’ve read that people have been able to use their FP after their return time ends. So, in Example #1 we could return after 12pm and in Example #2 we could return after 6pm and still be allowed in the FP line. Is that correct?

Any other information about FastPass that I should know?

Thanks!
Debbie

(Oooo, I’m almost to the double digits!!!)

 

[B'rer Karen]

Originally posted by WeLoveThePoly


Example #1:
It’s 10am and we are at Splash Mountain
(There is a Standby Line with a wait of 40 minutes)
There is a FastPass Return Time of 11am-12pm

I get a FP and once 11am hits I can get another FP (either for SM or another attraction) before I use the FP I got at 10am for SM. Is that correct?

That is correct. It will actually probably say you can get one at 10:05. Do check it though, be cause sometimes it will tell you an earlier time. And you have picked up on the way to work the system. Grab your next fast pass before using the first one. This works great if it's a ride you want to ride multiple times or two rides that are near each other like Splash and Big Thunder or RnR and ToT.

Originally posted by WeLoveThePoly

Example #2:
It’s 1pm and we are at Test Track
(There is a Standby Line with a wait of 75 minutes)
There is a FastPass Return Time of 5pm-6pm

I get a FP and once 2 hours pass (3pm) I can get another FP (either for TT or another attraction) even though I still have a FP that won't be active until 5pm. Is that correct?

This is also correct. Again, double check it just in case it gives you an earlier time to get another fast pass, but this is the longest you would have to go.

Originally posted by WeLoveThePoly
I’ve read that people have been able to use their FP after their return time ends. So, in Example #1 we could return after 12pm and in Example #2 we could return after 6pm and still be allowed in the FP line. Is that correct?

Any other information about FastPass that I should know?

I have personally done this before. No one seems to know if there is a hard and fast rule. As far as I can tell there it's a case of the CM's discretion. To be on the safe side I would get there within you window, but if you miss your window, it wouldn't hurt to ask as many of us have been able to use our passes after the window ended.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Thanks Karen!

I didn't realize the FP printed the time you could get another one. That's good to know!

Debbie

 

[Joyciemc]

Sounds like you've got FP figured out, to me. Before our trip last year, I also wasn't sure that I 'got' it. Once you're there and use the machines, it all becomes clear.

We used expired FPs last time. We forgot we had them, found them (a few hours later), and thought we'd give it a try. The CMs didn't care at all. I'm looking at the back of a FastPass ticket right now, and it says 'Please enter between the times noted...' and goes on to say 'Cannot accept early arrivals. Valid only on date printed.' So I think that while CMs do let you use them, they have the right to say no. I don't plan on being able to use expired FPs, but sometimes it's worth a try.

Have a great trip!!

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by Joyciemc
'Please enter between the times noted...' and goes on to say 'Cannot accept early arrivals. Valid only on date printed.' So I think that while CMs do let you use them, they have the right to say no.

Hmmmmm..... thate doesn't say anything about not being allowed to enter if you arrive after your window ends. It only asks that you "Please enter between the times noted." Not that you must or you won't be permitted entry to the attraction.

Has anyone ever been turned away because their window had passed?

 

[Missy1961]

It's never happened to me, but I wouldn't be surprised if it has happened on Test Track or Splash Mountain.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by lfontaine
Hmmmmm..... thate doesn't say anything about not being allowed to enter if you arrive after your window ends. It only asks that you "Please enter between the times noted." Not that you must or you won't be permitted entry to the attraction.

Has anyone ever been turned away because their window had passed?

YES, due to a snaffoo with our PS at Sci Fi we missed our FP window at Star Tours. My dd's and I were only about 10 minutes late so we tried to use them and were turned away.

TJ

 

[Marbear]

I will tell you my experience in early June.

We were literally stuck on Space Mountain in the vehicle which was next to enter the ride. While waiting 15-20 minutes for the ride to be up and running again, I asked the CM there if I could still use my fastpass for Splash Mountain, as we might now miss our window. She told me that the FP can be used all day after the initial return time, just not before it. She said they show return window times simply for crowd control. I thought it sounded great, but felt a bit tentative to put the theory into practice. The next few rides we used them for, and as a test past the return window, we had no problems (and this was for rides like Splash Mountain, Peter Pan and BTMR).

So, I don't know if this truly is official policy, but it worked for us (sure wish we had discovered this somewhere before our last day!).

Now, please don't tell everybody and his uncle this tidbit - let's just let the DISers have the inside scoop!!