How do you handle "Getting/Using fast passes"?

[Disneyforus]

We are getting really close to our trip and as I am finalizing our itineraries I started thinking about the logistics of FP's in each park and have a few questions? I don't want to be a crazy person trying to run around getting FP's for every attraction, but I do want to be smart about our plan for the day. We have 4 kiddos, and the less time we need to wait in line the better.

1. Are FP's available for rides as soon as the park opens? Or does there have to be a line/need for the FP's to start being offered? (Ie: If we are at MK and plan on going to FantasyLand first can we whip by POTC first and pick up FP'S to use later?)

2. Can we ride a ride and pick up a FP for later?

3. Is the return time window always an hour, or can it be less?

I would love to hear how others "use" FP. I don't want to be waiting in lines if I don't have to.

Thanks so much!!

 

[jenrein]

Well first off- enjoy your trip! I dont know everything but we were just there and I can answer a couple questions. You can get the fastpass for the ride as soon as the park is open. You can get 1 at a time- but when we got one for a ride it had a time printed telling you when you can get another. If I remember right most of the time windows were 1 hour or close to an hour.

 

[ammo]

1. Are FP's available for rides as soon as the park opens? Or does there have to be a line/need for the FP's to start being offered? (Ie: If we are at MK and plan on going to FantasyLand first can we whip by POTC first and pick up FP'S to use later?)

2. Can we ride a ride and pick up a FP for later?

3. Is the return time window always an hour, or can it be less?

1. Yes -- you can get FPs throughout the day, but only one at a time (you will be blacked-out from FPs until the time listed on the pass). As the day wears on, you will notice that the time lag between getting the FP and your use window will grow. For the more popular/low-capacity rides (such as Soarin' in Epcot), the FPs can disappear pretty early in the day.

Also, while your strategy is sound (grab an FP for a popular ride and do something else while you wait), I don't think POTC has FPs. You may also find that your use window is near enough that it may be difficult to go to another section of the park and then return in time to use your FP. We tend to stay nearby while waiting to use our FPs. So we will ride the Magic Carpets, climb the Treehouse, and visit Country Bear Jamboree while waiting to use our Jungle Cruise FPs.

Fantasyland is generally slower in the mornings, so you should be able to see Philharmagic and ride through Small World in time to get back to Adventureland or Tomorrowland for your FP.

2. Yes -- you can pick up FPs and use the stand-by entrance for the same ride.

3. As far as I know.

I hope you and your children have a great time!

 

[Disneyforus]

1. Yes -- you can get FPs throughout the day, but only one at a time (you will be blacked-out from FPs until the time listed on the pass).

Ok...so you can only have one FP at a time period, or one FP per ride that offers them???? Meaning, could I have a FP for 2 or 3 different attractions in my posession at one time?

Thanks

 

[ammo]

When you use your park ticket at FP distribution, the FP that you receive states three key things -- the attraction, the period during which you can access the attraction using the FP entrance (the one-hour window in which you can use the FP), and the next time that you can use your ticket to obtain a fast pass. Until that time, you will not be able to obtain any more FPs.

However, the time at which FP becomes re-available is generally no later than 5 minutes after the start of your use window. So if you FP Peter Pan's Flight and you can return between 11:30 and 12:30, your park ticket will probably become available for FP again at 11:35. At that time, you can get another FP even if you have not yet returned to Peter Pan.

Also, as the day wears on and the lag between obtaining your FP and the return time gets longer (e.g., you obtain the PPF FP at 1:15, but cannot return until some time between 3:45 and 4:45), your park ticket will become available for FP again prior to the use window (perhaps around 2:45 -- I haven't paid close enough attention to figure out the formula).

So you may be able to have overlapping FPs in your hand at some times during the day, but you will not be able to move quickly through the park picking up several FPs at the beginning of the day. The park maps identify attractions with FP and the boards will give you a good idea of which rides fill up quickly, so you can probably figure out a workable plan for getting FPs to the rides that matter most to your family. It will be fun!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Ok...so you can only have one FP at a time period, or one FP per ride that offers them???? Meaning, could I have a FP for 2 or 3 different attractions in my posession at one time?

Thanks

You can only have one FP for ANY ride at one time.

I wish you could have a handful of them and then go through the attractions commando style, but they don't allow that.

 

[beccalines]

Thanks AMMO!

I have wondering about this!

 

[perdidochas]

We are getting really close to our trip and as I am finalizing our itineraries I started thinking about the logistics of FP's in each park and have a few questions? I don't want to be a crazy person trying to run around getting FP's for every attraction, but I do want to be smart about our plan for the day. We have 4 kiddos, and the less time we need to wait in line the better.

1. Are FP's available for rides as soon as the park opens? Or does there have to be a line/need for the FP's to start being offered? (Ie: If we are at MK and plan on going to FantasyLand first can we whip by POTC first and pick up FP'S to use later?)

Yes. POTC doesn't have Fastpasses, though.

2. Can we ride a ride and pick up a FP for later?

Yes

3. Is the return time window always an hour, or can it be less?

I think it's always an hour.

I would love to hear how others "use" FP. I don't want to be waiting in lines if I don't have to.

Thanks so much!!

The main thing is to use them, and to think through it.

 

[PoohHappens]

You can only have one FP for ANY ride at one time.

I wish you could have a handful of them and then go through the attractions commando style, but they don't allow that.

I do not think this is exactly true. Pleas correct me if I am wrong. You can obtain any fast pass when the time becomes avalible. If you go early enough in the morning your fast pass time may only be 10minutes to and hour away and you can get another fast pass again soon, ie at 0900 you get a fast pass for splash mountain that is good for 0930-1030 and at 0935 you can get a new fast pass. You may have not used that fast pass yet, but I think you can still get another fast pass for the same ride at that time if you want. You will find that the standby lines at that time of the day may be really short so you could spend your half hour riding the same ride.
Another thing that you should know is that for most rides the fast pass does not expire on that day. If it says 1130-1230 and you are having lunch, most rides will accept it at 3:00pm.(anytime after your specified time)
Also during high volume times some rides, like soarin, test track, expedition everest the fast passes run out very early. I have gotten a fast pass at 1030 that is not until 8-9pm. That also means I cannot get another fast pass until 8:05pm which pretty much means I am done with FP for the day.

THe kisok for the FP will say what time they are distributing for, so you will know before you put your ticket in.
Hope I did not confuse you. Have a wonderful trip. My best suggestion with kids would be to go early and take a break in the afternoon when it gets busier.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I do not think this is exactly true. Pleas correct me if I am wrong. You can obtain any fast pass when the time becomes avalible. If you go early enough in the morning your fast pass time may only be 10minutes to and hour away and you can get another fast pass again soon, ie at 0900 you get a fast pass for splash mountain that is good for 0930-1030 and at 0935 you can get a new fast pass. You may have not used that fast pass yet, but I think you can still get another fast pass for the same ride at that time if you want. You will find that the standby lines at that time of the day may be really short so you could spend your half hour riding the same ride.
Another thing that you should know is that for most rides the fast pass does not expire on that day. If it says 1130-1230 and you are having lunch, most rides will accept it at 3:00pm.(anytime after your specified time)
Also during high volume times some rides, like soarin, test track, expedition everest the fast passes run out very early. I have gotten a fast pass at 1030 that is not until 8-9pm. That also means I cannot get another fast pass until 8:05pm which pretty much means I am done with FP for the day.

THe kisok for the FP will say what time they are distributing for, so you will know before you put your ticket in.
Hope I did not confuse you. Have a wonderful trip. My best suggestion with kids would be to go early and take a break in the afternoon when it gets busier.

I think perhaps you misunderstood me (or maybe I was not clear enough...my bad! I was just trying to be clear without being long winded! ) Of course to be technical...you are right, if your first FP is good starting at 9:00am and it is 9:05am, you can get another one because your window of time has opened up on the first one.

I only meant that you can't go into the park and collect all your FP's at once and then come back later to hit all the attractions in succession-I know a lot of people that aren't familiar with FP are under this impression and I was too when FP first came to be.

 

[PoohHappens]

Sorry I'm windy. I understand.

 

[Disneyforus]

Thanks to both of you. I think I am clear on what you are saying. Good thing I asked though, because I did think you could just collect FP's at will.

Thanks again!
I can't believe we leave in 3 days!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Sorry I'm windy. I understand.

Wasn't meant that you are windy. Hope you didn't take it that way. DH is always telling me I am too long winded and that I say in five minutes what can be said in five seconds...so I've tried to me more direct lately...but it doesn't seem to work for me.

 

[TikiGoddess2006]

I have gotten a fast pass at 1030 that is not until 8-9pm. That also means I cannot get another fast pass until 8:05pm which pretty much means I am done with FP for the day.

QUOTE]


If you get a FP at 1030 in the morning and the return time is not until 8-9pm, you are NOT done with FP for the day! This is where the "you can get a new Fastpass after such-and-such time" listed at the bottom of the ticket is helpful. Usually the times listed will be an hour after the time you received the ticket. I've heard of some people trying to get new FPs before the new FP time and succeeding, depending on the volume of people wanting to ride that attraction.

Also, yes, you can use your FPs later than the return time but beware Soarin'. It seems that is the only ride where people are turned away if they have not used their FP in the time slot listed on the FP.


Try this link for a great article on FP: http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/fastpass.htm

Hope this helps,
TikiG
TikiG

 

[AngieWin]

And please correct me if I am wrong, but Fastpasses do NOT expire right? If we were to get a fp for Expedition Everest, but not able to stay late enough for it, we could use it the next day right?

 

[mary174]

And please correct me if I am wrong, but Fastpasses do NOT expire right? If we were to get a fp for Expedition Everest, but not able to stay late enough for it, we could use it the next day right?

No you couldn't use it the next day. Usually CMs will try to accomodate you if it is past your window time on the same day, but technically they don't even have to do that.