How much time does a fastpass actually save you?

[CrazyDuck]

A few years ago I remember using a fastpass expecting it to actually be fast but I still remember waiting 15 minutes to ride rides like Splash Mountain. Did they ever fix the system? If the wait for a ride like Splash Mountain says 60 minutes how long should I expect to wait if I use a fastpass?

 

[HydroGuy]

Good question. It is true that it often takes 10-15 minutes to get on a ride with FP. But I do not think that tells the whole story. When a FP lets you shift your ride into the busy hours of the day it also allows you to go on other non-FP rides earlier or later when the lines are short.

In other words, without FP people often feel compelled to ride the Space and Splash Mtns early in the morning with shorter lines. When they are on those rides then they are not on other rides without FP whose lines also get long.

 

[avalon451]

A few years ago I remember using a fastpass expecting it to actually be fast but I still remember waiting 15 minutes to ride rides like Splash Mountain. Did they ever fix the system? If the wait for a ride like Splash Mountain says 60 minutes how long should I expect to wait if I use a fastpass?

So 45 minutes' less waiting doesn't seem worth it to you?

It's different depending on the ride and the crowd levels, and sometimes just the CMs involved. I have not experienced Autopia FP line myself, but I have heard that it's still long and not very worth it to get the FP for it. Soarin' is another one that can sometimes be a 15 minute wait even with a FP.

When we used FPs for Space Mountain, it probably took us 10-15 minutes to wend our way through the FP queue... but again, still SO much better than the poor people patiently waiting in the 70-minute standby line! Seems like Indy is the same.

I find that a lot of the difference for me, is that you are mostly moving, as opposed to standing in one place and shuffling a few steps once in a while. So even a 15 min. wait doesn't seem that long.

 

[Gisele]

Times that I had utilized fast passes in the past, it was wonderful for example to be able to breeze right on up to the CM at the fast pass line for Indy, and be waved on, while so many people were in that "shuffling a few steps once in awhile" ( to quote Avalon, he he I like that) along a very long line, matter of fact, I remember thinking, ha ha suckers, and I had to do everything I could (well kind of) not to say that, I think that probably would have not been nice! but boy it was a thing of beauty. Wish I had a picture! he he!

 

[avalon451]

along a very long line, matter of fact, I remember thinking, ha ha suckers, and I had to do everything I could (well kind of) not to say that, I think that probably would have not been nice! but boy it was a thing of beauty. Wish I had a picture! he he!

Yeah, did you ever get the "stink eye" from people as you breezed past them? I know I felt almost embarrassed at times, these people standing in the LOOOOOONNNGGG lines... Space Mnt, the ride is what, 4 minutes? but people will wait for 70 minutes? So you keep walking past all these people, and they are looking at you like they want to trip you. You almost want to stop, pat them kindly on the shoulder, and hand them a list of Hydroguy's tips. "Here... read this, it is the DIS credo; you, too, will become a believer and attain peace and happiness at Disneyland!"

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I have only used FP at DW, but I spefically rember last August a moving wait of no more than 10 minutes on space mountain. While we walked past all the people waiting in the 150 minute stand by line and DH commenting "why on earth would anybody wait that long in line:"

so, yes based on my experience the FP system is definatly worth, depending on your time of visit. Yes if the stand by line is only 15 minutes, no time lost, by in August a 15 minute wait is a no brainer wait

 

[Gisele]

Avalon,

I do remember getting a bit stared at, when whizzing on by, like a VIP, ah that was exciting, and probably will be the closest that I will ever become to being a VIP, he he!

 

[DLR29]

It depends on the ride (here's my experience):

Walk-ons: Roger Rabbit, Mulholland Madness, (Haunted Mansion Holiday)
Less than 5 minutes: Buzz, Big Thunder, California Screamin, Grizzly River Run
5-15 minutes: Splash, Space, Tower of Terror, Soarin
15+ minutes: Indy, Autopia

 

[Leofoenget]

Yeah, did you ever get the "stink eye" from people as you breezed past them? I know I felt almost embarrassed at times, these people standing in the LOOOOOONNNGGG lines... Space Mnt, the ride is what, 4 minutes? but people will wait for 70 minutes? So you keep walking past all these people, and they are looking at you like they want to trip you. You almost want to stop, pat them kindly on the shoulder, and hand them a list of Hydroguy's tips. "Here... read this, it is the DIS credo; you, too, will become a believer and attain peace and happiness at Disneyland!"

I've gotten "the evil eye" but I just look at them and say "so get a fast pass" not my fault they can't get with the program

 

[disneyobsessed808]

I think it saves you the most time when you're using Space or Splash Mountain. Indy is one of the worst FP lines. I have rarely seen the Indy standby line so long, that it was actually out the door, (though I'm sure those times exist); however, there is still a long wait, even after the FP line merges with the standby

 

[CAbryan]

My question is, how do people not use a FP? Unless you like to wait in lines that is.

It absolutely amazes me on the amount of people that go to Disney and know nothing about fast passes. Even when it first started and there was no wealth of info on the net about them, we learned quick... FP = Minimal wait.

To answer the question, FP is almost always worth it - the times it is not worth it, well crowd/line levels will be low enough anyway so the wait will be the same

 

[tink2dw]

Or you are in a horrible storm and the parks are deserted, but even then the times state 10 - 15 minutes! So, FP always work!

PS. With the Blazing Temps this Summer, why wait at all?? Get those FP and use them!

 

[silence]

When we were there last week, we were getting our 2nd FP of the day for Space and I saw a couple arguing.

He was trying to figure out how to get a FP and she was yelling at him that it was "only a 45 min wait".

UM...why would you WANT to wait 45 min?

I don't know that I have ever gone on Splash w/o a FP. Everytime we walk through that line with our FP we here people talking and some even asking HOW DO WE GET ONE OF THOSE?

 

[CrazyDuck]

So 45 minutes' less waiting doesn't seem worth it to you?

No I'm saying that there have been times where I used a fastpass on splash and still have had to wait 15 min while the regular line was only 20 min. Seemed like a waste of a fastpass. If the wait time is 60 min can I still expect to wait 15 or 50 min? Are there any rides that merge near the loading area that'll get you on the ride in like 5 min even on a busy day?

 

[ballarinamom]

My question is, how do people not use a FP? Unless you like to wait in lines that is.

It absolutely amazes me on the amount of people that go to Disney and know nothing about fast passes. Even when it first started and there was no wealth of info on the net about them, we learned quick... FP = Minimal wait.

To answer the question, FP is almost always worth it - the times it is not worth it, well crowd/line levels will be low enough anyway so the wait will be the same

I find that so many people don't even know about it- non planners like my sister-in-law. She just showed up to WDW with no plan and LATE! She didn't want to "bother" with fastpass. Needless to say she only rode 7rides in a day.
Also, the Six Flags parks are charging up to $50 per person for their version of Fastpass. It's called Flashpass. It is actually a clock type thing that tells you when you can get on the ride. However, you do get to the front of the line.
I still like Fastpass- free and convenient. The less people who use it- the better for me!!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

No I'm saying that there have been times where I used a fastpass on splash and still have had to wait 15 min while the regular line was only 20 min. Seemed like a waste of a fastpass. If the wait time is 60 min can I still expect to wait 15 or 50 min? Are there any rides that merge near the loading area that'll get you on the ride in like 5 min even on a busy day?

If a ride is that short anyway, I don't use FP for it. I use it for something else. But since I can't go in off season, the lines are usually not that short.

I saw Indy go out the "door" of the ride and down the street in Adventureland this past trip. We only rode it once- with a FP, of course.

I always overhear other people talking in line about how you have to BUY at FP.

 

[avalon451]

Well, I think the thing about FP is that you have to realize how much time you're saving for LATER if you get the FP now. The standby line might be only 20 minutes... but if you get the FP and then go ride something else that has a short wait now, but will be busy later on, you're making better use of your time.

Example: I get to the parks at 8 a.m. and grab a Space FP. I ride Star Tours and Matterhorn. Then it's 8:40 and I can get an Indy FP. I ride Jungle Cruise, PotC, and HM. Then it's 10 a.m. and I can get a Splash FP. You get the picture; by the time I'm ready for lunch and a break, I've got all the rides done that I want that don't have FPs. I have a pocket full of 4-5 FPs (or more, if I hopped over to DCA and grabbed Soarin' and another one before I left for my break). I come back from my afternoon swim and nap, and now the lines for Matterhorn, Jungle Cruise and Star Tours are anywhere from 30-70 minutes. But I already did them. The lines for the FP attractions are 45-70 minutes. But I can do them with waits of 15 minutes or less.

I think THAT's when the FPs are especially attractive. Late afternoon and evening, when the place is packed.

 

[Disneyanajc]

avalon451...This is almost exactly our plan for doing the Disney parks...works so great...go early, collect FP's as you go along, back to your hotel for a rest, swim and go back to the parks refreshed and ready to hit more rides with very little wait time...

Example: I get to the parks at 8 a.m. and grab a Space FP. I ride Star Tours and Matterhorn. Then it's 8:40 and I can get an Indy FP. I ride Jungle Cruise, PotC, and HM. Then it's 10 a.m. and I can get a Splash FP. You get the picture; by the time I'm ready for lunch and a break, I've got all the rides done that I want that don't have FPs. I have a pocket full of 4-5 FPs (or more, if I hopped over to DCA and grabbed Soarin' and another one before I left for my break). I come back from my afternoon swim and nap, and now the lines for Matterhorn, Jungle Cruise and Star Tours are anywhere from 30-70 minutes. But I already did them. The lines for the FP attractions are 45-70 minutes. But I can do them with waits of 15 minutes or less.

I think THAT's when the FPs are especially attractive. Late afternoon and evening, when the place is packed.

 

[DLR29]

Are there any rides that merge near the loading area that'll get you on the ride in like 5 min even on a busy day?

Yes, I already listed them.

Walk-ons: Roger Rabbit, Mulholland Madness, (Haunted Mansion Holiday)
Less than 5 minutes: Buzz, Big Thunder, California Screamin, Grizzly River Run

These are the wait times that I've experienced during peak seasons with a FP.

 

[CindyH]

When we were at DL last week, we already had FPs for Buzz. Went back after a few hours to ride Buzz, and decided to get more FPs. The CM yells out "Use your FPs wisely folks, you don't need it for this ride!" I ignored him, and went to get more FPs. As I'm coming out, then entering the Buzz ride, he runs over to me, yelling "You can't use those yet!" I *nicely* said "These are from earlier." If I weren't with my kids, I would have ALSO pointed out to him the line for Buzz (standby) was outside the building, and there were dozens of people standing in the hot sun. Maybe only for 10-15 minutes, true, but I'd rather not wait!

I would have ALSO mentioned to this obnoxious CM that most little kids don't like the FP rides (DS7 won't ride Indy, Space Mtn, etc.) so we may as well use them for Buzz!