So, my question for those who have been to both, what are the differences? Will my tricks work at WDW? Do I have to return during the window? Can I get another one within two hours? Can I get another one once the window has opened?
1. Fast pass works essentially the same. You can get your next one either when your return window opens or 2 hours, which ever comes first.
2. The only fast pass that is disconnected is Lights, Motorcars, Action.
3. DLR never rejects a late fast pass. WDW ALMOST never rejects a late fast pass.
4. Differences in what rides use fast pass will change your touring plans from DL to MK.
The biggest of these is Peter Pan and Pooh Use Fast Pass at MK and the Indy Speedway does not.
5. I believe there is less of a need at WDW to accumulate fast passes like one does at DLR.Several reasons.
a. Fewer attractions that build long lines but don't use fast pass in each park (the number one reason one would want to accumulate fast passes early.)
b. Sending a runner to Epcot to fast pass Soarin while you are in MK is not an option like it is at DLR with DCA and DL right next to each other.
c. Much longer walking distances involved in each park. At DL, taking that last detour over to Tomorrow Land to get Space Mountain in one more time costs very little shoe leather. Over at AK, taking that last detour back to the Safari again costs a lot more shoe leather. Let me digress a bit here. Shoe leather is much more a concern at WDW than at DLR. There is a saying at WDW and it has some basis in truth.
Day 1= Gung Ho
Day 2= Starting to feel it.
Day 3= The Wall.
Day 4 and beyond = numb.
d. A much greater number of attractions in a couple of WDW parks that are shows with set times. Can't fast pass those.
e. Shorter hours at 2 of the WDW parks that mean you don't go back for nap time and accumulate fast passes for the return (another huge reason to accumulate fast passes.)
6. At MK, the order of running out is usually this.
Splash Mountain and Peter Pan.
Then
Space Mountain and Pooh
Then
The rest.
7. Due to AK's shorter hours, fast passes there tend to run out very quickly.
Everest and the safari run out the quickest. Kali and Dinosaur next.
8. LMA is disconnected, at DS. But usually off except during the busiest times. We use fast pass the least here because the rides where we need it most, TOT and RNR, are up one end of the complex, So we tend to fast pass one of the big 2, ride the other. (sometimes twice), Then not return.
On other occasions we ride them from the off and never use a fast pass. There just isn't anything here that builds a ton and doesn't use fast pass to have to do early. And the big shows don't start up right away. The biggest thing here is to pay attention to your show times so as to get em all in.
9. At Epcot, Soarin and Test Track run out the quickest. The rest not as quickly.
The use of late fastpasses is a hot topic of debate at WDW. It is not generally accepted at WDW as it is in DL. Many have been refused entry into the fastpass queue if the return time has passed.
I am not sure what you mean or to whom you are referring to when you say generally accepted.
If you mean by the ride operators and such, to me, generally accepted would mean most of the time by most of the cms at most rides, but not all the time by all cms at all rides. It is my experience that they have never rejected a late one other than the three rides of Soarin, Everest, and Splash and on those three, that is fairly rare, but does happen. To me, generally accepted would apply here.
Are you referring to some on these boards? Well there are some that will never accept fast pass at all. Blaming those that use late fast passes is but the trigger to vent their frustrations upon. They don't want to get there early, can't take advantage of fast pass, and thus see it as unfair that others can. They see (without providing any evidence.) all those taking advantage of fast pass as the cause of their long lines. Who caused their long waits? Well they did. Fast Pass or no Fast Pass, waits are very much longer starting at about 11 am until about 1/2 hour before closing. So if they don't get there until 11, who is to blame? Well they are of course. I have no problems with sleeping in late. But they shouldn't seek to deny others the use of fast pass because of it. They had every opportunity to get up early and chose not to. Taking a late fast pass most of the time makes very little if any difference. I certainly have no problem with it. I also have no problem with Disney if they were to say sorry. No Can Do.
Many have been refused entry into the fastpass queue if the return time has passed.
Now that is true by many reports and Disney can enforce that at any time it wants to. But I'm not convinced that it is anything beyond a very seldom type thing.
I edited my post.
