FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation

[skiingfast]

My question is...is it a crap shoot as to what the time will be posted for you to get your next FP, or are certain rides associated with longer pauses between passes? It seems like 45 minutes to 2 hrs are possible.

With three kids and only 1 to 1 & a half days in DL, I do not want to waste time. I am already terrified at the prospect of how long the meet Rapunzel line may be. One of us has to wait in that line with our daughter because it is the #1 thing she wants to do. So we are married to that line no matter what.

You can hop super easy. I would starting in DL when you feel like it go to DCA, when you feel like it go back to DL. Don't plan on 1.5 days in DL and .5 days in DCA because hoping is easy and you can be casual about it.

Your next FP will be 45 minutes to 2 hours out in the morning, by late morning and the rest of the day expect it to take two hours. July should be busy so don't expect better.

For sure if the Tangles M&G has a long line that's a great chance to send one person out with the tickets to get another set of FPs. But the timing of when you can get your next one may not work out, so don't count on it, but consider the strategy of using runners.

 

[greenkai3000]

So, my understanding is that some rides you only have to wait 45 mins until you can use your fp, and others you need to wait up to two hours. Is there a place somewhere on this board where they list the length of time for fast passes, from shortest return time, to longest?

 

[LizzyS]

My understanding is that the earlier in the day you get your fastpass, the sooner you can come back to use it. The later in the day you get the fastpass, the longer the period of time that lapses between the present and when you are able to use it. Someone that's actually been to the park should probably confirm, though, I'm just a hyped up newbie that's done WAY too much research on the park!

 

[HydroGuy]

So, my understanding is that some rides you only have to wait 45 mins until you can use your fp, and others you need to wait up to two hours. Is there a place somewhere on this board where they list the length of time for fast passes, from shortest return time, to longest?

No because it all depends on the ride, time of day, and time of year.

 

[ArchOwl]

So, my understanding is that some rides you only have to wait 45 mins until you can use your fp, and others you need to wait up to two hours. Is there a place somewhere on this board where they list the length of time for fast passes, from shortest return time, to longest?

Think of it like a reservation system that operates on a first come, first served basis. When the park opens for the day, they begin handing out reservations in order. Since no one is in front of you, you get return times that are very soon. The sooner your return time, the sooner you can get another fastpass. As the day goes on, you are behind more and more people. This is how very popular rides, such as Star Tours and Haunted Mansion Holiday, run out of fastpasses. Then there are less popular rides that have fewer people in front of you who asked for a return time, so your return time is sooner.

This all depends on how many people are in the parks that day and what time you begin collecting fastpasses. The fewer people there that day and the sooner you begin collecting fastpasses, the sooner your return time and the more fastpasses you can collect. So it would be impossible to tell you on any given day what the FP return time would be, since it would depend on how many people are in the park and how soon you got to the park. If you want an idea of FP return times, you can purchase a software ride ordering program like Ridemax, or watch free apps like Mousewait or Lines to get a feel for when FPs are no longer available and what the return times look like.

Then there are two rides in Disneyland that are not connected to the other rides: Roger Rabbit and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. They only keep track of what fastpass you have for that ride and not what fastpasses you hold for every other ride in the park. So you can grab a FP for Indy (let's say) and walk directly from Indy to BTMRR and get another FP. Now you have essentially two different reservation systems. One for BTMRR and one for the rest of the rides (excluding RR). Since BTMRR is less popular than Indy, your return time for BTMRR will most likely be sooner, allowing you to get multiple FPs for BTMRR with no restrictions from the Indy FP you hold. Now, if you get a RR FP, you will be holding FPs from three different reservation systems. Confused yet, lol.

Hopefully you understand why it would be impossible to have a chart regarding FP distribution and return times, it is heavily dependent on multiple factors that don't lend themselves to simple lines of data.

 

[greenkai3000]

Ok, I get it now. Thanks for the help!