How much time does a fast pass really save you?

[proud_canadian]

When we went to disney in 2003, we never had to use the fast passes. Almost all rides were walk on. I think the most we waited was maybe 10-15 min for splash moutain. I wonder how long they've been around and if they were still pretty new, as I can't recall seeing anyone actually using them.

Anyways, we are planning to go in Sept, 2010. And will use them if it is busy enough to warrant it. But I think it will be a PITA, having to come back to certain attractions all the time, unless it would save considerable amounts of time.

How long do you typically wait in a fast pass line??

 

[Minniemama350]

If the ridetimes are short it is not worth it, but if you have to wait for more than 30 minutes, it can be really helpful. However, during peak times they often run out of the most popular early on.

 

[g-dad66]

September is one of the slowest times of year, so you probably won't need Fast Passes for many of the attractions.

However, the most popular attractions can still have 50-60 minute waits even during slow times, so a Fast Pass can save you 45-55 minutes.

Also, you can use your Fast Pass any time after your return time (on the same day), so you don't have to keep running back to attractions which you skipped. You can plan your most convenient route for afternoons and/or evenings to make use of Fast Passes collected earlier.

 

[proud_canadian]

Thanks, but when you do come back and wait in the "fast pass" line, how quickly do you normally get on the ride?

Like what is the average wait time? What's the longest you waited while in a fast pass line?

 

[g-dad66]

Thanks, but when you do come back and wait in the "fast pass" line, how quickly do you normally get on the ride?

Like what is the average wait time? What's the longest you waited while in a fast pass line?

I'd say 5 minutes is about average.

Only had to wait over 10 minutes once (maybe about 20 minutes) when Test Track apparently was having technical difficulties

 

[Minniemama350]

I think I've waited ten minutes a few times, but mostly you walk right on. I always check stanby when we return. You never know!

 

[Mom2PrincessK]

We've waited 15-20 minutes for Soarin' several times...with standby being 1.5-2 hours. When it's busy, the merge point for the top attractions can still leave 10-15 minutes for the wait (you generally merge right before the pre-shows, and there is a line after the show such as RnR and TT). Other than that, we've waited anywhere from 0-15 minutes...usually less than 10. As a pp stated, if it is not busy it is moot. In busier times, 15 minutes is A LOT better than 1-2 hours.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Thanks, but when you do come back and wait in the "fast pass" line, how quickly do you normally get on the ride?

Like what is the average wait time? What's the longest you waited while in a fast pass line?

5-10 minutes.

When we were there this past September, there were a few times we needed it (for BTMRR, Peter Pan, Toy Story Mania, Test Track), and a few times we'd gotten FPs that we ended up not even using because there was no wait for stand-by anyway (for Soarin', Test Track, Expedition Everest, and the Safari). And a few rides that normally have it just had it turned off (Kali River Rapids, Splash Mountain).

As a general rule, we don't ride if stand-by is more than 15-20 minutes, we get FPs instead.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We used fast passes for the rides with long wait times - even during nonbusy times like Toy Story, Soarin, Test Track, Peter Pan. You never know when the wait times will change. We got fast passes for Thunder Mtn. RR, and the wait was not long, but when we came back to ride it with the fast pass later, the wait was very long....

The nice thing about fast passes when there is not a long wait, is you will usually be able to get another fast pass very soon... I think Toy Story is an exception. But for most rides, if the wait was 20 minutes, the return time is probably also about 20 minutes,,, so I'd get a fast pass to use later, and I'd be able to get another fast pass (for a different ride) 20 minutes later. Why even wait 20 minutes, if I can only wait 5 minutes later.

But, I would not make a special walk just to get a fast pass during these times, except for the rides that always have longer waits.

 

[danceintherain]

Technically the goal of Fast Pass has never been to reduce wait times. The goal was that people would view their waits differently, because of where they were allowed to endure them. PERCEPTION.
For example, you walk up to Space Mountain and see the wait is 60 minutes long. You see that the Fast Pass return time is 90 minutes in the future. If you get a Fast Pass and return 90 minutes later technically you are waiting longer to ride that attraction, if the stand by wait time was correct.

In that 90 minutes you decide to go experience the Carousel of Progress. You probably didn't wait that long at all to do that and you see that the wait for Buzz Lightyear is 20 minutes, so you do that twice. You grab something to eat and then you notice that your Fastpass return time has arrived. You skip back to the line where you wait 20 minutes at the most. I don't think I've waited that long with a Fast Pass very often though. Technically you've waited almost 2 hours to ride the ride, but your perception of the wait is that you weren't waiting at all.
If you had waited in that 60 minute line, maybe you had an ice cream with you for the first 10 minutes, but for the last 50 minutes you're just staring at the people and objects around you. This can be fun if you're waiting in one of the more interesting queues, but some of the others are less appealing.

Most of the FastPass lines I've been through have little or no wait. If there is any noticeable wait, then it's because ALL lines standby, fastpass, and single rider are backed up because of some technical problems with the ride.

If a ride has a Standby wait time of less than 20 minutes, maybe 30, then I'll probably opt to wait in that line. Even then, especially if the FP return time is really soon, sometimes I get a FastPass anyways and then ride twice in a row. The same waiting time for two times on the ride.
If it's more than 30 minutes, then my preference is to let Disney play mind games with me a little and spend my wait time elsewhere.

Also, if you have a Dining Reservation planned, getting a Fastpass before that ADR can allow you to spend your wait time in an air-conditioned restaurant, and return to your ride after you've eaten.