Has the Fastpass time allowance changed?

[mamahauldren]

I read somewhere, either on another site or on one of the threads that the 2 hour window for fastpasses has changed. I have been planing based on the 2 hour information I received on another site. Can anyone direct me to another thread or give me the 411 on the fastpass workings...Thanks again.

 

[tcfdick]

When I used Fastpass last summer, there was always a 1 hour time limit. Sometimes we were able to get another fastpass after less than an hour. You do need to wait for the time stated on the fastpass to ride the attraction (for instance, it might be 11:00 am and your fastpass time might say 3:00-4:00, so you won't be able to go on the attraction until that time, but the time that you will be able to get another fastpass might be 12:01.) It will tell you when your next window opens for you to get an additional fastpass on the fastpass ticket. Hope this didn't confuse you!

 

[seashoreCM]

The fast pass system is continually undergoing revisions and improvements.

As of November 2003 you could often get another fast pass for a different less busy ride somewhat in advance of the time for next fast pass shown on the fast pass you already have. The exact formula is not easy to guess but it is worth trying 45 minutes to an hour after you got your last fast pass. ALso which rides let you get fast passes more quickly cannot be guessed accurately.

The formulas can also change from day to day and even during the day depending on park crowding.

More:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/fastnext.htm

One thing you can try: Get your first fast pass for a really popular ride. If the ride time was two or more hours away, your second fast pass time is pushed out two hours. Try for your second fast pass at a not quite so busy ride just one hour later. If you succeeded in getting this fast pass, chances are your third fast pass time shown on the second fast pass is pushed out just one hour from now, not one hour from the second fast pass time time shown on your first fast pass. Get your third fast pass for a busy ride, your fourth for a not quite so busy ride. You may well find that you are getting fast passes about one hour apart overall with the busy ride fast passes as quickly as possible given the worst case two hours apart.

 

[flipturngirl]

everything is the same..i belive. when i went to the park last summer during disney's aniversery.. i got the ticket at 3 in the afternoon and had to wait till like midnight. but it is like usally an 2 hour time wait. and time to each of them. i belive also depends on time of year

 

[mamahauldren]

Boy, This sounds like one of my college classes, trying to remember the formula of when and if a pass is available. This is my biggest fear of the entire trip. I am hoping I can just try to get these passes and if I am not eligible it will spit out and say- SORRY ! Without any harm to future eligibility...Like" Sorry, since you dont know how to use this system...We've decided you can use this at all " ha ha !!

 

[bethbuchall]

When we were there in May, it was always two hours or 5 minutes after the time to ride. I did try a couple of times to get fast passes early, since I heard that you may be able to get them for Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise early. I was not able to. Maybe I should have read the above link better. If you are not eligible, it just prints out a slip saying why. You won't be banned from the system.

Beth

 

[d96j97]

One thing I read here on these boards is that when you get a fastpass, you have to wait until your return time...BUT...you can return anytime after that return time and the CM's will still honor it. I was a bit sceptical but tried it just 2 weeks ago and it worked without a hitch. Our fastpass return time for Space mountain was 3-4pm and we used it at 7pm without question. Just a great tip to pass along thanks to all the wonderful DISers.

Have a great trip!

 

[Kaycee]

Originally posted by mamahauldren
Boy, This sounds like one of my college classes, trying to remember the formula of when and if a pass is available. This is my biggest fear of the entire trip. I am hoping I can just try to get these passes and if I am not eligible it will spit out and say- SORRY ! Without any harm to future eligibility...Like" Sorry, since you dont know how to use this system...We've decided you can use this at all " ha ha !!

Hi! Don't let all this strategy talk overwhelm you. Some people enjoy the challenge of learning all the in's and out's of the system and getting every advantage out of it that they can. But for those of us who like to relax and keep it simple on vacation, Fastpasses are easy to use. I just go by the two times printed on the fastpass - the time that says when I can return to ride and the time that says when I can get another Fastpass. It would stress me more than help me trying to find out all the variations in the system. What we do works well; we use Fastpass a lot and rarely wait in lines even though we travel at busy times. To me, that's good enough!

 

[seashoreCM]

There is actually an incentive to eliminate the benefit of having less busy rides allow fast passes to be gotten more often. Too many people will experiment, and each time a fast pass is denied, another small piece of waste paper with a black spot on it is emitted from the machine to pollute the environment.

Although the time for next fast pass was changed a year or so ago to be as little as 45 minutes depending on park crowding, it was never advertised you could get more fast passes for some rides sooner than the time stamped.

 

[pilotmono]

The Fastpass system is programmable with no less than four layers of computers. When a layer fails, the system will default in favor of Guests. However, the settings as they stand today, allow you to get your next Fastpass when the one you are holding becomes valid or two hours later, whichever comes first. Common mistakes are:
1. Obtaining a Fastpass when there is no wait at the attraction locking you out of the next one. The length of the lockout time varies, however the time you may get another Fastpass is normally printed at the bottom of the ticket. If there is no time you may not be locked out due to system problems.
2. Look at the return time clock above the distribution turnstiles--If the return time is after you will be leaving the park for the day and you get a Fastpass, you may be locked out from getting your next one for up to two hours.
3. Getting the wrong Fastpass--Usually at Big Thunder Mt. and Splash Mt. since the distribution turnstiles are so close together.
4. Ticket becomes demagnitized because it came in close proximity to a magnet (like the clasp of a purse) or a cell phone battery. It then will not work in the machines.
5. Guests showing up early for their return time hoping they will be let in. They won't.
6. Believing the information on the attached link above titled "More FastPasses More Often". This was written when there were locations that were programmed to "waive" the Fastpass rule. Don't waste you time trying to get a Fastpass every hour. It states on your Fastpass, at the bottom, when you may get your next one. There is no "Magic Hour". There is no "Five Minute Surcharge".
7. A predetermined number of Fastpasses are distributed each day. Once they are gone, the location closes. The time it closes is based on demand and is not predetermined.
8. Any variations to the above information is usually the result of system problems or testing that is conducted from time to time. The Fastpass rule is no longer waived at Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion.
9. This information applies only to the WDW Fastpass system.