FASTPASS...Is this true??

[Indyfan]

I haven't been to DL since they implemented FASTPASS. Today, my travel agent told me that not everyone gets access to the Fastpass machines. She said it's only available to guests that book a Disney package. In otherwords, people who buy tickets at the gate don't have Fastpass privileges. Is this correct?

 

[JKJK]

Anyone can use fastpass, however if you book a AAA package including tickets and lodging, you can get something called unlimited fastpass. Up until the end of 2003, you could purchase tickets only thru AAA and were able to get the unlimited feature. I know because we did this last Dec. But they changed this effective Jan. 2004.

 

[djm99]

Originally posted by JKJK
Anyone can use fastpass, however if you book a AAA package including tickets and lodging, you can get something called unlimited fastpass. Up until the end of 2003, you could purchase tickets only thru AAA and were able to get the unlimited feature. I know because we did this last Dec. But they changed this effective Jan. 2004.

My AAA office in St. Louis, MO still offers unlimited fastpasses. At least they did when I went by there last week. The AAA packages were a couple hundred dollars more that getawaytoday.com so we went with getawaytoday. Lots of hotels are offering a better rate on their "best rate" than AAA, so booking via AAA just didn't do it for me!!!!

 

[iceskatejen]

Everyone with a valid admission, regardless of how you got it (ie, at the gate, through the Disney Store, through a travel package) or what type of pass it is (1-day 1-parksingle-day hopper, multi-day hopper, AP) can use Fastpass. So long as there's some sort of physical ticket or pass, you are fine. The only type of admission I'm not sure about would be CM comps. Years ago I had a friend who was a cm and she got me in free a lot. Back then I never got a physical tcket, though. She had a card that they date-stamped to show that she used some of her comp admissions that day.

Sounds like you TA either doesn't know what she's talking about, or she's trying to seel you something you don't need.

 

[Indyfan]

Originally posted by iceskatejen
Sounds like you TA either doesn't know what she's talking about, or she's trying to seel you something you don't need.

She doesn't know what she's talking about... since I already booked the trip. The conversation came up when I told her we made the mistake of booking over Veterans Day, and I was upset since this is a school holiday in CA and the parks would be packed. (We are pulling my nieces out of school... the only reason we did that was to go during a slow time!) That's when she told me that most "locals" wouldn't have access to FASTPASS. I take responsiblity for not paying closer attention to the calendar (our schools never observe this holiday)... but, I think SHE should have also been aware when all holidays are, and warned us!

Thanks everyone for giving me the RIGHT information!!

 

[JC Butterfly]

How does the AAA fastpass work?

Like if I go up to Splash Mountain do I have to get an actual Fastpass from the machine and come back in like an hour?

Or does it mean unlimited like I just show my AAA pass and they immediately let me on Splash Mountain?


And could I get like 3 fast passes in a row to Splash Mountain so I could just keep riding it?

(just using that ride as an example)

What does AAA give you that is different than what other ticket holders have?

 

[Buttercup26]

This is a very simplistic Fastpass explanation, but basically it works like this:

Anyone get a Fastpass, but you can only get one Fastpass at a time. You cannot get a Splash Mtn Fastpass and then immediately go get a HMH Fastpass. Once you get a Fastpass you can't get 2nd until the time of the 1st Fastpass.

With an AAA package (it must be a package w/lodging at one of the 3 DLR hotels) you get "Enhanced" Fastpass. With Enhanced Fastpass you can get more than one Fastpass at a time, for different rides. You can NOT get 2 Fastpasses for Splash, but could get one for Splash and one for HMH within minutes of each other.

Prior to 2004 AAA offered Enhanced Fastpass on any park tickets they sold, you did not have to get a package. Starting with 2004 you can only get the Enhanced Fastpass with a AAA package and the lodging MUST be at one of the 3 DLR hotels, not a good neighbor hotel.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

One thing to keep in mind that DLR has been shutting several/most FP machines off during weekdays and non busy times- Several rides have lost their Machines forever (Pirates/HM NOT HMH/Pooh etc)

-em

 

[arilvdc]

also, remember that there are a certain number of fastpasses allocated per hour per day. If there is an unexpected demand, all of the fastpasses can be passed out rather quickly. i was just there on Tuesday, and all of the indiana jones fastpasses were gone by noon.

 

[JKJK]

Buttercup for your detailed explanation. I was not very clear but you really spelled it out. Thanks!