Fastpass wait time?

[thatgirl'smom]

When you get a Fastpass and return at the specified time, about how long on average is the wait?

 

[HydroGuy]

This depends on many, many things, and cannot be answered unless you are more specific. It depends on which ride you are talking about, what time of day you get the FP, and what time of year you go, among other things.

FastPasses early in the morning will have a window 45 minutes away. For popular rides like Space Mnt, FastPasses mid-day, if they are still available, will not open until after 10PM.

The good thing at DLR is you are not constrained to use the FP during the one-hour window. You can use it any time that day during the window or thereafter.

 

[thatgirl'smom]

Oh, okay, more details...

If we got a Fastpass for Space Mt. as early in the morning as possible, like right at opening, and the window was 45 minutes away (like you said), how long could we approx. expect the wait to be when we came back for the ride?

 

[victorandbellasmom]

We've never waited more than 15-20 minutes for space mountain using fastpass. Oftentimes our wait averaged about 10-13 minutes. When using fastpass for other rides such as buzz lightyear, big thunder mountain, splash mountain, and roger rabbit the wait times were pretty similar uisng FP. i don't think we've had to wait longer than 20-25 minutes, but often around 10-15 minutes.

 

[Texasfan]

My longest wait was 15 minutes.

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

The only ride we consistantly seem to have to wait forever for even with FP is Autopia. I've been in line up to 1/2 hour before -- WITH FastPass -- which is rather annoying. Buzz Lightyear we can generally walk right on or be on in under 5 minutes using FP.

 

[HydroGuy]

Ooops, I did not read your question right. Sorry.

What you are talking about wait time of the FP return line.

It varies by ride. Here is my estimate for averages:

Space Mtn - about 15 minutes
Buzz LY - usually 5 minutes max
Splash - about 10 minutes
Indy Jones -10-15 minutes
Big Thunder Mtn RR - about 5 minutes
Autopia - 15-25 minutes

At DCA

Tower of Terror - about 15 minutes
Soarin - about 15 minutes
CA Screamin - about 5 minutes
GRR - about 5 minutes
MM - about 5 minutes

 

[dletz]

One big difference is after a parade or fireworks. Everyone rushes to the rides after these and the standby line gets long, and the fast pass lines get long. For many rides after a parade, the fast pass line will surpass the standby line.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Last August we never waited more than 15 minutes max..but you have to stay away from the post fantasmic and fireworks times.

Jack

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree with the Autopia comment. Fastpass gains you very little on that ride. My advice is if you want to ride it, go very early in the morning. It is also a hot, sunny que in parts and that just gets worse as the day wears on! Hydroguy's estimates sound right to me. Bear in mind that the longer fp wait times are generally for the rides that have long, winding, themed ques. At Indiana Jones for example you bypass the exterior que but still have to walk along the long interior que and wait in the same line as the people who didn't use fastpass but waited outside. Does that make sense? Same with TOT and Soarin. I think with those rides, many parts of the que are part of the rides and worth seeing.

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with the Autopia comment. Fastpass gains you very little on that ride. My advice is if you want to ride it, go very early in the morning. It is also a hot, sunny que in parts and that just gets worse as the day wears on! Hydroguy's estimates sound right to me. Bear in mind that the longer fp wait times are generally for the rides that have long, winding, themed ques. At Indiana Jones for example you bypass the exterior que but still have to walk along the long interior que and wait in the same line as the people who didn't use fastpass but waited outside. Does that make sense? Same with TOT and Soarin. I think with those rides, many parts of the que are part of the rides and worth seeing.

The last time I used FP on Autopia we waited 25 minutes. So we do not use FP anymore for that. However, most recently we did go to Autopia on our second ride of the day on a day we were there at park opening. We found out they cannot start the ride until they get enough people to drive all the cars. So we had to wait for about 3 minutes for more people to show up. This was at 8:10-8:15AM. My recommendation for Autopia is to go early in the morning (within the first hour) - but not in the first 15 minutes DL is open. Or go late at night when the park clears out.

 

[Amy&Dan]

The last time I used FP on Autopia we waited 25 minutes. So we do not use FP anymore for that. However, most recently we did go to Autopia on our second ride of the day on a day we were there at park opening. We found out they cannot start the ride until they get enough people to drive all the cars. So we had to wait for about 3 minutes for more people to show up. This was at 8:10-8:15AM. My recommendation for Autopia is to go early in the morning (within the first hour) - but not in the first 15 minutes DL is open. Or go late at night when the park clears out.

Thank you for that info, my five year old nieces love that ride and I had planned on going there first thing with them our first morning. Good to know! Hey aren't you in WDW right now??

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you for that info, my five year old nieces love that ride and I had planned on going there first thing with them our first morning. Good to know! Hey aren't you in WDW right now??

We were supposed to be riding Exp Everest today and coming home tonight. But there was some bad karma about this trip. During a hike in early April I learned what plantar fasciitis is - an inflammation in the bottom of your foot. I was trying to be ready for WDW (seeing a physical therapist), and a few days before the trip my DS11 took a fall and hurt his back. Then two days before we were to leave the Dolphin hotel calls and said they are having trouble with some rooms and need to move us somewhere but cannot find us consecutive nights and we will need to hop hotels.

It turns out I have a business conference mid-June at WDW Coronado Springs, and we decided to postpone the trip until then and make it longer, and bring DW. And the Dolphin was more than willing to cancel our reservation with no penalty. So now we will have a ten day trip , although I will be occupied three of those days but will be free in the evneings .

 

[HydroGuy]

The last time I used FP on Autopia we waited 25 minutes. So we do not use FP anymore for that. However, most recently we did go to Autopia on our second ride of the day on a day we were there at park opening. We found out they cannot start the ride until they get enough people to drive all the cars. So we had to wait for about 3 minutes for more people to show up. This was at 8:10-8:15AM. My recommendation for Autopia is to go early in the morning (within the first hour) - but not in the first 15 minutes DL is open. Or go late at night when the park clears out.

Thank you for that info, my five year old nieces love that ride and I had planned on going there first thing with them our first morning. Good to know!

To be specific, this was a non-EE Wednesday, and we were third in line at the DL gate for 8AM opening. I went first to get a Space Mtn FP and met my family back at Astro Orbiter which we rode, and then we went to Autopia. We got to Autopia at 8:10AM or so, and we were about the fourth group to show up at Autopia. The CM held everyone at the entrance to Autopia for about 3 minutes. By that time there were 8-10 groups in line, and then he let everyone in. So 8:15AM would be about the right time to show up on such a day.

I suppose if it were an EE day they might have enough people hanging around TL you could go to Autopia right away and it would be OK. The visual key is to see if people are walking into the standby line, or being held at the standby entrance. If they are walking in already, then you should be fine to jump in line.

 

[mommabo]

We were supposed to be riding Exp Everest today and coming home tonight. But there was some bad karma about this trip. During a hike in early April I learned what plantar fasciitis is - an inflammation in the bottom of your foot. I was trying to be ready for WDW (seeing a physical therapist), and a few days before the trip my DS11 took a fall and hurt his back. Then two days before we were to leave the Dolphin hotel calls and said they are having trouble with some rooms and need to move us somewhere but cannot find us consecutive nights and we will need to hop hotels.

It turns out I have a business conference mid-June at WDW Coronado Springs, and we decided to postpone the trip until then and make it longer, and bring DW. And the Dolphin was more than willing to cancel our reservation with no penalty. So now we will have a ten day trip , although I will be occupied three of those days but will be free in the evneings .

Hydroguy
So sorry to hear about your bad karma lately. I was eager to hear your about your experiences at WDW since you info for DL has been so helpful. We are fellow Arizonans and have been to DL a couple of times in the past, but never with as much knowledge as we will be taking with us for our July 31-Aug trip.

We went to WDW this past January (with last trip being 10 years ago) and found these boards along with Tour Guide Mike. I know you have done quite a bit of research, but if you haven't tried TGM, I highly recommend him. He was spot on for everything. Despite crowds, we did everything, hardly if ever waited, in short had a blast. I worship at the alter of TGM

If there is anything I can help you with and any questions, please let me know. As I said, I have found your info for DL very enlightening. As a matter of fact, this year we are going to upgrade our SoCal DL tickets to APs. The kids won't be these ages forever (12, 9, 6) so might as well make hay while the sun shines!

Here's sending you good karma

 

[HydroGuy]

Hydroguy

We went to WDW this past January (with last trip being 10 years ago) and found these boards along with Tour Guide Mike. I know you have done quite a bit of research, but if you haven't tried TGM, I highly recommend him. He was spot on for everything. Despite crowds, we did everything, hardly if ever waited, in short had a blast. I worship at the alter of TGM

Here's sending you good karma

Thanks for the sympathy. It turns out there is just no way I could have gone this past weekend with the foot inflammation which led to back pain because of crutches, etc. I am feeling much better the last day or so and am way up for the June trip.

I signed up for TGM in Feb and agree it is a really good resource. It will be more hot and crowded in June than May, and Mike's advice will come in handy. I really like his site and think everyone should consider TGM for WDW. Another resource I like is RideMax. They now have a WDW version.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We were supposed to be riding Exp Everest today and coming home tonight. But there was some bad karma about this trip. During a hike in early April I learned what plantar fasciitis is - an inflammation in the bottom of your foot. I was trying to be ready for WDW (seeing a physical therapist), and a few days before the trip my DS11 took a fall and hurt his back. Then two days before we were to leave the Dolphin hotel calls and said they are having trouble with some rooms and need to move us somewhere but cannot find us consecutive nights and we will need to hop hotels.

It turns out I have a business conference mid-June at WDW Coronado Springs, and we decided to postpone the trip until then and make it longer, and bring DW. And the Dolphin was more than willing to cancel our reservation with no penalty. So now we will have a ten day trip , although I will be occupied three of those days but will be free in the evneings .

Wow I am so sorry to hear that! Sometimes, things just aren't meant to be. I think 10 days with the wife along will be great! Are all of your boys coming now as well? We ended up taking the bus to Coronado Springs one day (long story) as we are staying there for three nights before our cruise. It looks wonderful, I think your sons will love that pool! Good luck with your foot and your son's back. And Expedition Everest is incredible! Get well soon.

P.S. I have almost forgiven you for those bad comments about the Snow White show at Disneyland! And thanks for the tips on Autopia, frankly I hate that ride but the kids love it, what can you do?

 

[blackjackdelta]

My girl friend discovered what PF was about a year and a half ago. She had it in both feet. Went to PT but it did not resolve, had it injected times 3 and it completely went away in the left foot. It became much worse in the right foot. While just walking down the beach, she moved wrong and blew out her heal. She had reconstructive surgery, lost 6 month's from work, now has a 3.5 inch titaniium bolt anchoring her heal in place. So good luck with the PF I am told it can get really painful.
Hydroguy..are you a hydrol lic engineer..?? I origanally thought you were a hydroplane freak, but after reading some of your posts, you have to be an engineer type.

Get well soon,

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

My girl friend discovered what PF was about a year and a half ago. She had it in both feet. Went to PT but it did not resolve, had it injected times 3 and it completely went away in the left foot. It became much worse in the right foot. While just walking down the beach, she moved wrong and blew out her heal. She had reconstructive surgery, lost 6 month's from work, now has a 3.5 inch titaniium bolt anchoring her heal in place. So good luck with the PF I am told it can get really painful.
Hydroguy..are you a hydrol lic engineer..?? I origanally thought you were a hydroplane freak, but after reading some of your posts, you have to be an engineer type.

Get well soon,

Jack

Fortunately I do not have PF very bad. And only in my right foot. It seems to be clearing up and I have high hopes for June. When I read stories like your GF, it makes me feel like I got off easy.

My day job is developing software to simulate fluid flow in piping systems, so I would count myself as a hydraulic engineer. And yes, it does not surprise me that my analytical side comes out in my posts about how to do theme parks and work the FastPass system. That obvious, huh?

 

[HydroGuy]

I think 10 days with the wife along will be great! Are all of your boys coming now as well? We ended up taking the bus to Coronado Springs one day (long story) as we are staying there for three nights before our cruise. It looks wonderful, I think your sons will love that pool! Good luck with your foot and your son's back. And Expedition Everest is incredible! Get well soon.

Three boys are coming (DS14, DS11, and DS10). DS13 is not coming, as he is going to Greece with a group of 40 middle-schoolers and some teachers from their school.

Since the trip turned into this 10 day thing, DW said we had to have a kitchen, and so I had to drop CSR reservations in favor of a cabin at Ft. Wilderness - which was all I could find at this late date. So I will commute down to CSR for three days from Ft. Wilderness.

Have a great cruise.