FastPass Overload

[Lorelai]

Back in the day (when FastPass began) I believe that you could only hold one FastPass at a time, and not get another until the time on your first had expired.

What is the limit today? Can you get more than one at a time with your park admission? If so, how many at a time?

This must have the FP machines using up their quota earlier in the day.

 

[Skylarr29]

You may still only hold one fast pass at a time. The time in which you can get another is printed on the fast pass. You are right,some rides do go through their quota earlier in the day.. Soarin' and Test Trek being among them.

 

[Ted and Holly]

There are some instances where you can hold more than one at once. I am not sure if they are still doing it, but some attractions at Epcot will give shorter timeouts.

Ted

 

[brentalex]

You can have two at a time. You can get the second right after the return time of your first. So, if you have a return time of 11:00 and it is 11 but you have not yet used the fast pass, you can go and get another. The system does not know whether you have used the first one, only that you could have used it. Once that happens you can get another.

 

[drogerstn]

We have always been able to get more than one FP even when it 1st began. The general rule is (was) that another FP can be obtained the earliest of the two:

1. The start time of ride time period on the 1st FP (not the expired time)
2. Two hours after obtaining the FP

Now, the FP has a time stamped on it letting the user know when another FP can be obtained. Things get crazy from here

• Some attractions will allow the user to get a FP even before the time stamped on the FP they are holding.
• Some attractions will sometimes stamp a time to get a new FP which is only 5 minutes after obtaining the FP
• I'm sure there's more I'm leaving out...anyone

 

[Lorelai]

We have always been able to get more than one FP even when it 1st began. The general rule is (was) that another FP can be obtained the earliest of the two:

1. The start time of ride time period on the 1st FP (not the expired time)
2. Two hours after obtaining the FP

Now, the FP has a time stamped on it letting the user know when another FP can be obtained. Things get crazy from here

• Some attractions will allow the user to get a FP even before the time stamped on the FP they are holding.
• Some attractions will sometimes stamp a time to get a new FP which is only 5 minutes after obtaining the FP
• I'm sure there's more I'm leaving out...anyone

Okay, I'm a little confused - who stamps it? The machine or a CM? And what if I get stamped that I can get another in 5 minutes - any chance I'll be rejected by the 2nd machine/CM?? Sorry so many questions - I just want to know how to negotiate this process before I get there.

 

[wdwguide]

Okay, I'm a little confused - who stamps it? The machine or a CM? And what if I get stamped that I can get another in 5 minutes - any chance I'll be rejected by the 2nd machine/CM?? Sorry so many questions - I just want to know how to negotiate this process before I get there.

It's printed on there by the machine. All FastPass machines within the same park are networked, so you will not be rejected by one machine if another "told" you you are eligible to get your next FastPass.

 

[SueM in MN]

Okay, I'm a little confused - who stamps it? The machine or a CM? And what if I get stamped that I can get another in 5 minutes - any chance I'll be rejected by the 2nd machine/CM?? Sorry so many questions - I just want to know how to negotiate this process before I get there.

The Fastpass machine stamps the time (your return time and the time that another Fastpass can be obtained).
Since it's issuing you a Fastpass based on reading your park pass, the computer attached to the Fastpass machine must "know" what other Fastpasses you have. From what I understand, if the attraction you are getting a Fastpass for is not one that is really busy (like it has lots of Fastpasses left or the Standby wait is short), the Fastpass machine might "reward" by allowing you to get another Fastpass sooner. I also thought I read that the Fastpass machine might randomly allow a shorter waiting time for the next Fastpass (some pixie dust sprinkling).

 

[krismom]

just keep in mind (as I duck!) that fastpasses don't expire- CM's will let you use them all day on the day you get them.....gather them all morning before taking that break in the afternon and the evening is a breeze!

 

[Lorelai]

just keep in mind (as I duck!) that fastpasses don't expire- CM's will let you use them all day on the day you get them.....gather them all morning before taking that break in the afternon and the evening is a breeze!

Seriously? I honestly never knew this.

Don't duck. I'll bet that most people who use FP actually do go back during their appointed time, and still will. I know for us, we usually ride everything we like in the early part of the day. Then we have a nice relaxing meal before heading to a less crowded part of The World - pool, Downtown Disney, resort shops, etc. But that is really an interesting fact. Maybe one that we'd use someday....... when we can last longer in the parks.

Have a great day!

 

[SueM in MN]

Seriously? I honestly never knew this.

Don't duck. I'll bet that most people who use FP actually do go back during their appointed time, and still will. I know for us, we usually ride everything we like in the early part of the day. Then we have a nice relaxing meal before heading to a less crowded part of The World - pool, Downtown Disney, resort shops, etc. But that is really an interesting fact. Maybe one that we'd use someday....... when we can last longer in the parks.

Have a great day!

you can't always count on using them after the return time.
People have posted that sometimes the CMs won't let them be used after the time. It is written on the back of the FP to return between the times listed on the front. It also says it's valid only for the date printed on the front.

 

[Lorelai]

you can't always count on using them after the return time.
People have posted that sometimes the CMs won't let them be used after the time. It is written on the back of the FP to return between the times listed on the front. It also says it's valid only for the date printed on the front.

Ah well, easy come, easy go. It's Disney, you gotta go with the flow.

 

[rlovew]

The FP with shorter times before the next FP are generally the shows that have a very specific return time. I think if you were to get a FP to LMA first thing in the morning you could get another FP fairly soon after.

I for one have been turned away just 10 minutes after a FP expired contrary to what others have said and if I want to use them I use them when I should and don't try to go off of the time.

 

[drogerstn]

The FP with shorter times before the next FP are generally the shows that have a very specific return time. I think if you were to get a FP to LMA first thing in the morning you could get another FP fairly soon after.

I think you're right about the shows in general, but we experienced this "short time period for another FP" at Jungle Cruise and Living With the Land.

I wonder if when these rides are giving out "short time period for another FP" if they will also distribute FP's to a guest who already has a FP which has not yet reached its eligible time for another FP.

 

[mdoc]

I believe the time when you can get another fastpass is the earlier of the return time on your first FastPass or 2 hours from when you got the first fastpass. The time when you can get another will be printed on your first FastPass. It doesn't matter, and Disney doesn't know, whether you've used the first FastPass or not, so you can definitely hold more than one at a time.

 

[seashoreCM]

Lights Motors (at MGM) is an extreme example of "short time period for another fastpass.

It appears that if you see someone else get a fastpass and his time for another fast pass is X minutes away (about 5 for Lights, Motors), you can get a fastpass for that ride X minutes from when you got your last fastpass even if the time printed on yours has not arrived yet. This is only a guessing process because the actual formulas are Disney guarded secrets and can change during the day.

However the time for third fastpass printed on your second will not be earlier than the time for second fastpass printed on your first.

Short time period may be in effect for different rides during non-busy periods.

 

[drogerstn]

I believe the time when you can get another fastpass is the earlier of the return time on your first FastPass or 2 hours from when you got the first fastpass. The time when you can get another will be printed on your first FastPass. It doesn't matter, and Disney doesn't know, whether you've used the first FastPass or not, so you can definitely hold more than one at a time.

 

[challada]

FYI...last week Test Track FP machines were also giving out "bonus" FPs to Mission Space. So when we got to the park, we went to TT to get our FP for it and got both FP for TT and MS. The MS ones were for right away so we went to ride it and then turned around to use our TT ones. Worked great!

 

[SueM in MN]

I think you're right about the shows in general, but we experienced this "short time period for another FP" at Jungle Cruise and Living With the Land.

I wonder if when these rides are giving out "short time period for another FP" if they will also distribute FP's to a guest who already has a FP which has not yet reached its eligible time for another FP.

Just a guess, but it could be because people are not using Fastpasses that much for those attractions. The couple of times we were in the Land on our recent trip, there were people who were in the Standby line for Living with the Land, but no one was in the Fastpass line (except us when we used it).

If people are coming into the Land and going right to Soarin" to pick up a Fastpass, they might have a long time until they can get another. The Fastpass machine at Living with the Land might be set up so that if you get a Fastpass for that, you could also go and get one right away for Soarin'.

 

[drogerstn]

Just a guess, but it could be because people are not using Fastpasses that much for those attractions. The couple of times we were in the Land on our recent trip, there were people who were in the Standby line for Living with the Land, but no one was in the Fastpass line (except us when we used it).

If people are coming into the Land and going right to Soarin" to pick up a Fastpass, they might have a long time until they can get another. The Fastpass machine at Living with the Land might be set up so that if you get a Fastpass for that, you could also go and get one right away for Soarin'.

I'm guessing the same thing. Now if you know ahead of time that this is happening, it makes sense to get the FP for Living with the Land 1st, then get the Soarin' FP.

OR perhaps you could get a FP 1st at Soarin' and the Living with the Land FP machine will ignore the "get another FP time" associated with the Soarin' FP and allow you to get a FP almost immediately. I have read that this can happen under the right conditions, but I have not experienced it myself...