Fastpass Runner

[SweetSpot]

I have been reading all the great strategies on how to best use fastpass and they call for a runner. Having never been to the park and not really understanding the size of the park, can someone help me understand. Is DL a fairly small park that would allow someone to go from one place to another really fast or is the runner going to miss out on rides that the others will have time to do while they are running? Also, it has been a very long time since I have been to WDW and used fastpass, aren't you limited to one fastpass at a time or can you accumulate many by running from machine to machine? I have read that you can use them past their use time but I thought you couldn't get a fastpass until you used the one you already had.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We usually pick up fastpasses as we are in the area. Like if we happen to go on Buzz, we'll pick up Space Mountain fastpasses. Now you do have a wait period in between times you can get fastpasses. For example you have to wait 45 minutes before getting more. So, you go do some other rides, and then pick up more when the time comes up. By the afternoon/evening you'll have a nice stack of fastpasses to use (you do NOT have to return during the time that it says, you can use them hours later).

There are times where we'll want FP for Indy for example, so we'll walk over, pick those up, and then hit the rides around there. Like the Jungle Cruise, Pirates ect... Having that stack of FP really helped us on some very busy evenings in the parks!

 

[dmked]

While it wouldn't make much sense to have someone run to get passes and meet you back in another "land" they can run to get them and meet you on another ride that is fairly close by. When you get you fastpass, it will say on there what time you can get your next fastpass, you cannot get a fastpass for all the rides at the same time.

 

[HydroGuy]

There are several purposes of the FP runner.

1. Saves energy for group as one person goes to get the FPs and others do not have to walk

2. It is faster for one person to get the FPs than for the whole group to make their way to the FP machines - especially if the FP runner is the fastest walker in the group.

3. It is more efficient and allows for "multi-tasking". For example, dad is the runner and gets FPs while mom takes kids to restroom or gets table for next meal.

The FP runner can either skip the next ride or not. Depends on the group decision. For example, I am the runner for our family. And I can ride all Disney rides - except for Star Tours. So I usually try to time my kid's ride on Star Tours with a FP pickup time. I skip it while they ride it, and I go and get FPs.

On the other hand, if I want to ride the next ride, then my family makes its way to the next ride while I get the FPs, and then I meet them at the next ride.

For more info on this, see: "Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

 

[ironpig70]

for me being 6' and all legs i can grab a fast pass enroute while my wife takes the kids 4,4 and 10 towards a ride. and i'll meet them there. or like hydroguy said we multitask while ones off dealing with the kids ones getting fast passes. and i only get them when i'm in or going thru a land. not really into running all over the place to get a fast pass.

 

[avalon451]

I have been reading all the great strategies on how to best use fastpass and they call for a runner. Having never been to the park and not really understanding the size of the park, can someone help me understand. Is DL a fairly small park that would allow someone to go from one place to another really fast or is the runner going to miss out on rides that the others will have time to do while they are running? Also, it has been a very long time since I have been to WDW and used fastpass, aren't you limited to one fastpass at a time or can you accumulate many by running from machine to machine? I have read that you can use them past their use time but I thought you couldn't get a fastpass until you used the one you already had.

Hydroguy's sticky tips thread at the top of the page has a great section on understanding FP at DL. I like this one best : http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052 It has pictures, showing you exactly how it works.

You can collect another FP as soon as the the "return time" window opens up, or 2 hours later, whichever comes first. The system doesn't track when you actually use it-- just when your next "fastpass available" time is. So we like to collect FPs as soon as the next one is available, all morning, then use them in the afternoon or evening.

We're like Ironpig, we generally just get them for the area we're in when possible. i.e. Indy FP first, then ride Pirates and HM, by then we can get a Splash FP, ride Pooh, drool over the tigger tails in the candy shop, hit Pirate's Lair, then get BTMRR FP... like that.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

... I thought you couldn't get a fastpass until you used the one you already had.

As the example below shows, Fastpasses can be accumulated early, and then used later.

... aren't you limited to one fastpass at a time or can you accumulate many by running from machine to machine?

HydroGuy described the ideal scenario in the following thread. In the “best case” it’s possible to have six DL Fastpasses by 12:00 Noon. And since you can always get one Fastpass for Roger Rabbit (RRCTS is not “connected” to DL’s other FP machines), you could have seven DL FPs.

From "Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718 (post #4):

1. Space Mtn (get FP @8:10AM - next FP time will be 8:55AM - you can use this FP anytime after 8:55AM)
2. Splash Mtn (get FP @8:55AM - next FP time will be 9:40AM - you can use this FP anytime after 9:40AM)
3. Indiana Jones (get FP @9:40AM - next FP time will be about 10:30AM - you can use this FP anytime after 10:30AM)
4. Buzz Lightyear (get FP @10:30AM - next FP time will be about 11:15AM - you can use this FP anytime after 11:15AM)
5. Big Thunder Mtn RR (get FP @11:15AM - next FP time will be about 12:00PM - you can use this FP anytime after 12:00PM)
6. Autopia (get FP @12:00PM - next FP time will be about 12:45PM - you can use this FP anytime after about 12:45PM)

HTH

 

[DoomBugger]

As the example below shows, Fastpasses can be accumulated early, and then used later.



HydroGuy described the ideal scenario in the following thread. In the “best case” it’s possible to have six DL Fastpasses by 12:00 Noon. And since you can always get one Fastpass for Roger Rabbit (RRCTS is not “connected” to DL’s other FP machines), you could have seven DL FPs.

From "Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718 (post #4):



HTH

That goes to show the value in getting to the parks early!

Since the FP system only gives out so many FPs per ride, per day the earlier you arrive and start getting them the more will ultimately become available to you before they run out in the afternoon/evening.

 

[stopher1]

I have been reading all the great strategies on how to best use fastpass and they call for a runner. Having never been to the park and not really understanding the size of the park, can someone help me understand. Is DL a fairly small park that would allow someone to go from one place to another really fast or is the runner going to miss out on rides that the others will have time to do while they are running? Also, it has been a very long time since I have been to WDW and used fastpass, aren't you limited to one fastpass at a time or can you accumulate many by running from machine to machine? I have read that you can use them past their use time but I thought you couldn't get a fastpass until you used the one you already had.

DL is much smaller than MK at WDW - less than half the size acreage wise... but - the walkways and lands are smaller and therefore gets more crowded more easily than at MK, too. Size doesn't mean a whole lot though, since there are more attractions and shows in a that single park than any one park at WDW. Adventureland, especially, is quite small and tight. Having one person run on ahead and get FP's for another attraction is a very good strategy, but don't send more than that given the crowding possibilities.

 

[SweetSpot]

Thank you, it makes more sense now. I thought maybe they changed the FP rule and allowed you to accumulate a bunch of FP's at a time. I was under the impression that one person was designated to leave the group and go from machine to machine at once.

Knowing I can save accumulated FP's and use them after their designated time later in the day is the best tip on this board.

 

[PigletGurl]

My sis and I are our family's fastpass runners. Let's say while are parents are ordering food we go and grab some for soarin'! It's really fun, especially since DLR is not huge at all.