FP @ DL vs WDW - What do I need to know?

[LoveBugs]

Ok, so I grew up in Anaheim. My dad worked as an Imagineer and I knew DL like my own backyard. After moving out of state as an adult, however, we now do WDW every year and I'm far more familiar with it.

We'll be at DL in June and I don't want to be caught off guard about anything. In particular, it sounds like fast passes there are pretty much like the fast passes of WDW a few years ago - machines, no pre-booking, can return any time after the posted return time. Is that all correct? Anything else I should know? Are there any that run out of passes ridiculously early (Soarin', TSM, like at WDW?).

Thank you!

 

[figment_jii]

We'll be at DL in June and I don't want to be caught off guard about anything. In particular, it sounds like fast passes there are pretty much like the fast passes of WDW a few years ago - machines, no pre-booking, can return any time after the posted return time. Is that all correct? Anything else I should know? Are there any that run out of passes ridiculously early (Soarin', TSM, like at WDW?).

DLR still uses the "legacy" FP system, like WDW did before the implemented FP+. However, they are enforcing return times, so you must return within the time window printed on the ticket. There is no set grace period at DLR, so do not count on being able to use the FP if you are late returning. Yes, FP will run out for RSR (Radiator Springs Racers) somewhere within the first few hours of the day (usually).

The FP Encyclopedia is a useful thread to look at:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...ng-you-need-to-know-about-fps-at-dlr.3094011/

Caveat: All attractions within a given park are now "connected" to that parks system. Meaning if you get a RSR FP, you cannot get another FP in DCA until two hours later or when your RSR FP window opens, whichever comes first. The two parks (DL and DCA) are "disconnected" from each other, meaning you can get an RSR FP and then immediately go to DL and get a FP for Indy. The two nighttime shows (WoC and F!) are disconnected from the FP system. Likewise, the A&E, Olaf, and Fantasy Faire Theatre FP/Return Tickets are disconnected from the system (so having one of those will not impact you ability to get a FP).

Another "big" different from WDW is that you only have to activate your ticket at one of the parks to be able to get FPs in both parks. So for example, you could start your day in DL and then send a "runner" to DCA to get RSR and WoC tickets for your party. Even though the ticket has not been used to enter DCA that day, the runner can still use it to get the DCA FPs. The ticket must have been used to enter a park that day, but once that has happened, you can get FPs in either park.

 

[mom2rtk]

Once tickets are scanned at one of the 2 parks for entry, then they can be used for FP in either park. So you can send a runner to the other park for FPs for the group as long as everyone has entered one of the 2 parks.

 

[LoveBugs]

Wow, that's really interesting to know. We do have 3-day park hoppers, so I could definitely see that coming in handy. You could really just fast pass your whole way through the day, if you don't mind the back and forth. Ok, so sounds like RSR is a must, since that's something we can't do in Florida. Is there an app like the My Disney Experience one with the wait times and fast pass return times?

 

[AngiTN]

Wow, that's really interesting to know. We do have 3-day park hoppers, so I could definitely see that coming in handy. You could really just fast pass your whole way through the day, if you don't mind the back and forth. Ok, so sounds like RSR is a must, since that's something we can't do in Florida. Is there an app like the My Disney Experience one with the wait times and fast pass return times?

Touring Plans has a DL lines ap. I've been led to understand it's fairly accurate.

 

[figment_jii]

Is there an app like the My Disney Experience one with the wait times and fast pass return times?

No DLR does not have an official app like MDE at WDW. I've found that the most reliable system is to call Ask Otto, which will give you the current wait time and FP return time (if applicable). Otherwise, there are third party apps that will list wait times and FP times, but they rely on guests in the park to provide that information. So it's only as good as the number of people who are supplying information. I use a mixture of Ask Otto, and the MouseWait and Disneyland Wait Times apps.

 

[LoveBugs]

Perfect, thanks guys

 

[Peezle]

Once tickets are scanned at one of the 2 parks for entry, then they can be used for FP in either park. So you can send a runner to the other park for FPs for the group as long as everyone has entered one of the 2 parks.

Are you sure about this? I ask because I've seen multiple posts on these boards that state just the opposite or something slightly different. I've seen that each person has to have their ticket scanned and enter the park they want to get FPs in. I've also seen where one person can go to the other park after everyone has entered the first park, but the runner still has to have all of the tickets scanned for entry before they can use them to get FPs. It sounds like you are saying that a runner can go to the other park, only scan their ticket to get in, and then use everyone else's tickets to get the FPs they want.

I sure hope you are correct. I'm trying to help a friend whose family has never been to DL and will only get to be there for 1 day . If a runner can go back and forth between parks to get FPs, that would really help to maximize their time and what they get to do. Having a straight answer on this will be very helpful. Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

As far as I know, mom2rtk is correct. At DLR, you only need to scan your ticket to get into DL or DCA to be able to full FPs in both DL and DCA. So if everyone goes into DL, they can still send a runner to get FPs in DCA. I did this back in November; my group went in DL and then I collected their tickets and hopped over to DCA to get FPs for RSR and WoC for the entire group. I did not have any problems.

It's worth noting that this is not the case in WDW, so perhaps that's where you've heard conflicting information.

 

[Peezle]

As far as I know, mom2rtk is correct. At DLR, you only need to scan your ticket to get into DL or DCA to be able to full FPs in both DL and DCA. So if everyone goes into DL, they can still send a runner to get FPs in DCA. I did this back in November; my group went in DL and then I collected their tickets and hopped over to DCA to get FPs for RSR and WoC for the entire group. I did not have any problems.

It's worth noting that this is not the case in WDW, so perhaps that's where you've heard conflicting information.

Thanks, Figment. I'm careful to ensure I'm looking at DL information only. As in this case, sometimes the information given is not consistent. I appreciate hearing first hand experience. That always helps. One question - did you have to scan everyone's tickets for entry when you went to DCA to get FPs for your group, or only scan your own ticket for entry?

 

[figment_jii]

They will not let you scan tickets for guests that are not physically there with you at the ticket gates. Essentially, you can only scan your own ticket to get into the park. So, I only scanned my ticket at the DCA turnstiles, but because everyone else had already entered DL, their tickets are considered "active" for the day.

There is one caveat: I don't know if this technique works if you don't have park hopper tickets. Let's say you have a park hopper, but the rest of your family does not. I don't know if you can use their tickets to get FPs in DCA if they've gone into DL for the day. It seems like you should not because they can't enter DCA that day, but I don't know if the system is programmed that way.

 

[Peezle]

They will not let you scan tickets for guests that are not physically there with you at the ticket gates. Essentially, you can only scan your own ticket to get into the park. So, I only scanned my ticket at the DCA turnstiles, but because everyone else had already entered DL, their tickets are considered "active" for the day.

There is one caveat: I don't know if this technique works if you don't have park hopper tickets. Let's say you have a park hopper, but the rest of your family does not. I don't know if you can use their tickets to get FPs in DCA if they've gone into DL for the day. It seems like you should not because they can't enter DCA that day, but I don't know if the system is programmed that way.

Thanks, again, Figment. And you make a good point. The difference in information I've seen may have been due to the type of ticket various people had. My friends will have park hopper tickets, so they should be able to take advantage and use a runner to park hop.

 

[superlarz]

can return any time after the posted return time. Is that all correct?

you have to return during the listed return hours. Ex if your FP is for 9:30-10:30 they wont take it at 11. You have until 10:30 to get into the queue

 

[Epek]

Op- just because no one has touched on this yet, I think it's worth noting that not all the rides that have FP at WDW have them at DLR. At least, that's my understanding from following these boards. Hopefully someone can expand on this?! I also believe that less attractions have FP.

 

[mom2rtk]

Op- just because no one has touched on this yet, I think it's worth noting that not all the rides that have FP at WDW have them at DLR. At least, that's my understanding from following these boards. Hopefully someone can expand on this?! I also believe that less attractions have FP.

This is true in spades. Disney has added FP to all but a very small minority of rides at WDW.

The inverse is true at DLR with only a small minority of rides having FP at DLR.

 

[figment_jii]

As mom2rtk said, DLR doesn't actually have that many rides that use the FP system. It's more like how WDW was before they went to FP+ and added FP to almost all of the rides. You can see a list of which attractions at DLR use the FP system on the Disneyland website.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/#/fastpass/