Ok, I'm really confused about this FP thing

[11Tinkermom]

I've read about fast passes in the guide book, i've read about them on the disney site, and i've been reading about them on here, but I'm still confused. I did a search but like a BILLION different things popped up and I didn't go thru all of them.

Ok, so....lemme get this straight...some of the popular rides have some sort of ticket booth near them and you walk up to them and insert your ticket and it prints out a FP with a specific time on it to come back, correct??

Then...when you come back...is there a special line you wait in??? Or do you show your FP to someone and they move you up the line???

Does every member of your party that will be riding the ride need a FP or is 1 enough for the entire group??

How often can you get a FP (for other rides)...i read you have to wait 2 hours between each FP?? correct??

And I also read the machines that hand them out run out after a certain time???

I'm sorry to ask such stupid questions but I'm a newbie, haven't been to Disney since the lat 80s, and I guess until I see it for myself, I just don't 'get it'

If you know of a link that answers all these questions, please pass it to me! Thanks!

 

[Planogirl]

Good questions!!!

You do go to an area where there fastpass machines and insert your park pass. You do have to get one for each member of your party. One fastpass per person. The return times for the current badge of fastpasses are clearly displayed. When you can get the next fastpass for another (or the same) attraction depends on when your return time is.

There is a separate line for fastpass holders with a CM stationed at the entrance. He allows people in when their fastpass windows open. Another CM will take the fastpasses on get you on the ride or filter you into the group waiting right at the ride itself.

The machines do run out once all available times are gone. The very popular rides run out quickly on a busy day and Toy Story Mania always runs out quickly!

 

[Planogirl]

Here is a link to info that might be helpful: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/fastpass.htm

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Ok, so....lemme get this straight...some of the popular rides have some sort of ticket booth near them and you walk up to them and insert your ticket and it prints out a FP with a specific time on it to come back, correct??

Yes, This is correct.

Then...when you come back...is there a special line you wait in??? Or do you show your FP to someone and they move you up the line???

Yes, there are 2 lines to these "major" attractions. The Standby line (regular line) and the Fastpass line.

Does every member of your party that will be riding the ride need a FP or is 1 enough for the entire group??

Yes, every member will need to insert their ticket into the FP machine and receive the paper voucher with a return time, The CM waiting at the front of the FP line will collect a FP from every person in the group, so everyone must have one (unless you have a child under 3 who doesn't require a ticket to get into the park, they will be admitted to ride with you considering they meet any height requirements)

How often can you get a FP (for other rides)...i read you have to wait 2 hours between each FP?? correct??

This is a general rule of thumb, the actual time that you are able to receive a new FP will actually be printed on the FP that you have. It usually is 2hours from the time you received the first FP.

And I also read the machines that hand them out run out after a certain time???

Yes, sort of. They have a limited number of FP that will be distributed throughout the day, to keep the FP at a reasonable wait time, therefore certain rides (TSM being the hardest one) run out of FP's super early, thats why you are seeing ppl talking about the machines being out of FP's by a certain time.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I've read about fast passes in the guide book, i've read about them on the disney site, and i've been reading about them on here, but I'm still confused. I did a search but like a BILLION different things popped up and I didn't go thru all of them.

Ok, so....lemme get this straight...some of the popular rides have some sort of ticket booth near them and you walk up to them and insert your ticket and it prints out a FP with a specific time on it to come back, correct?? Yes

Then...when you come back...is there a special line you wait in??? Or do you show your FP to someone and they move you up the line??? There's a fastpass line that the CM will direct you to.

Does every member of your party that will be riding the ride need a FP or is 1 enough for the entire group?? Every member wanting to ride the ride must have a fastpass.

How often can you get a FP (for other rides)...i read you have to wait 2 hours between each FP?? correct?? The return times vary from one ride to the next and you can't get another til that window opens on your first one. Example: return time says 10am-11am...you can get your next FP at 10:01am.

And I also read the machines that hand them out run out after a certain time??? Sometimes they do run out...yes.

I'm sorry to ask such stupid questions but I'm a newbie, haven't been to Disney since the lat 80s, and I guess until I see it for myself, I just don't 'get it'

If you know of a link that answers all these questions, please pass it to me! Thanks!

 

[LilyWDW]

I've read about fast passes in the guide book, i've read about them on the disney site, and i've been reading about them on here, but I'm still confused. I did a search but like a BILLION different things popped up and I didn't go thru all of them.

Ok, so....lemme get this straight...some of the popular rides have some sort of ticket booth near them and you walk up to them and insert your ticket and it prints out a FP with a specific time on it to come back, correct??

That is correct. There will be kiosks set up somewhere near the ride (there will be signage). You insert your ticket and a FP will be distributed. On this ticket it will give you a window of time to come back. The vast majority of the time, you can come back any time AFTER the start of the window.

Then...when you come back...is there a special line you wait in??? Or do you show your FP to someone and they move you up the line???

There will be a Fastpass Line. A CM will be standing there to verify the time on your FP and you will enter that line.

Does every member of your party that will be riding the ride need a FP or is 1 enough for the entire group??

All members wishing to ride must have their own FP to enter the line.

How often can you get a FP (for other rides)...i read you have to wait 2 hours between each FP?? correct??

At the bottom of the ticket there will be a time. That time is when you can obtain your next fastpass.

And I also read the machines that hand them out run out after a certain time???

Yes, they can run out. There are only a certain number given out per time period. Once that time period runs into closing, then the machine will stop handing them out. This often happens at the most popular of rides such as TSM and Soarin'.

I'm sorry to ask such stupid questions but I'm a newbie, haven't been to Disney since the lat 80s, and I guess until I see it for myself, I just don't 'get it'

If you know of a link that answers all these questions, please pass it to me! Thanks!

My answers in Red in the quote.

 

[ValinWV]

I've read about fast passes in the guide book, i've read about them on the disney site, and i've been reading about them on here, but I'm still confused. I did a search but like a BILLION different things popped up and I didn't go thru all of them.

Ok, so....lemme get this straight...some of the popular rides have some sort of ticket booth near them and you walk up to them and insert your ticket and it prints out a FP with a specific time on it to come back, correct??
This is correct


Then...when you come back...is there a special line you wait in??? Or do you show your FP to someone and they move you up the line???
There is a separate FP Line a CM will check your FP and let you in that line. You then hand your FP to a CM at the end of that line before you get on the ride

Does every member of your party that will be riding the ride need a FP or is 1 enough for the entire group??
You need a FP for each member of your party

How often can you get a FP (for other rides)...i read you have to wait 2 hours between each FP?? correct??
There is a time printed on the bottom of your FP telling you when you can get your next one. It is either 2 hours or after your current FP is valid, which ever is sooner.

And I also read the machines that hand them out run out after a certain time???
There are some rides that will run out of FP early in the day. Two that come to mind are Toy Story Mania and Soarin', I am sure there are others.
I'm sorry to ask such stupid questions but I'm a newbie, haven't been to Disney since the lat 80s, and I guess until I see it for myself, I just don't 'get it'
No such thing as a stupid question. It does get confusing if you have never done it before or seen a FP.

If you know of a link that answers all these questions, please pass it to me! Thanks!

I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

The return times vary from one ride to the next and you can't get another til that window opens on your first one. Example: return time says 10am-11am...you can get your next FP at 10:01am.

This is actually wrong information. It CAN be true, but if you are lets say for example a late runner to TSM and your return time is lets say 4pm.... you do not have to wait until then before you are eligible for another FP, it is generally 2hours from when you received your first OR the time printed on the front of the FP that states "you may receive another FP after 0:00"

 

[tlh0726]

At the bottom of the fastpass it will tell you what time you are able to obtain your next fastpass.

It is either the start time of the fastpass window or 2 hours, whichever comes first.

Also all park tickets must be activated at the gate to be able to get fastpasses. for example one person cannot go to DHS to get TSM fastpasses while everyone else sleeps in because only the ticket that was used for entry is going to work in the fastpass machine.

 

[seashoreCM]

The maximum delay to get the next fastpass is 2 hours after you got this one. The delay could be less depending on when "this" fastpass becomes ready to use and how uncrowded the park is.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/fastpass.htm

 

[stargazertechie]

Step 1: Find a sign like this:

Step 2: Insert your tickets into the FP machine like this:

Step 3: Look and see what time you return, and when you can get your next fastpass

Step 4: Return at your designated time to the FP return line:

This allows you to avoid situations like this:

 

[erincon23]

But what nobody has mentioned is that you can use the Fastpass any time after the start time, not just between the times listed. If the Fastpass is good for return between 2:00 and 3:00, you could still use it at 7 pm.

 

[kayjaybe]

Loved the response with the photos! That should be a sticky somewhere on this site explaining FP use!

 

[doconeill]

Also see the link in my signature...it covers a lot of the "rules" and includes pics.

Love the 350 minute standby time pic though!

 

[Diegosmom]

Ok thanks for all the info. I have a question. So TS mania is super popular. So at rope drop we should run to this ride. Now could DS and I get in line and hubby take our tix and get us fastpass (for later) and then DH join us in line. This way we can ride in the standby line and then ride again later in the day? Is this ok?

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Ok thanks for all the info. I have a question. So TS mania is super popular. So at rope drop we should run to this ride. Now could DS and I get in line and hubby take our tix and get us fastpass (for later) and then DH join us in line. This way we can ride in the standby line and then ride again later in the day? Is this ok?

While it would be fine for you to get in line and him get the passes, it is not however, appropriate for him to "join" you in line, people will have gotten in line after you for the ride and It isn't appropriate to cut in line, regardless if your group is already in line.

I would let him run ahead for the FP's and the rest of you can walk leisurely to the ride, where you would then be able to all get in line together!

 

[Diegosmom]

Ok thanks, I was thinking that. Probably will have him run ahead but not sure how good DH is with maps lol...We might do HS on our first afternoon so we can see where the ride is...although I am sure he could just follow the mass of people lol

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Ok thanks, I was thinking that. Probably will have him run ahead but not sure how good DH is with maps lol...We might do HS on our first afternoon so we can see where the ride is...although I am sure he could just follow the mass of people lol

Absolutely! You really cant miss it, everyone heading towards the right of the hat is heading for TSM (the bigger mass of people)

People that turn to go left are heading to sign up for Jedi Training.

 

[DeckedOut]

When we were there & I believe it's still true, for TSM the CM's wont let your DH jump up ahead of the line by you. They tell you to wait until the whole party is together to get in the stanby line. So you have to wait till DH gets the FP's and joins you & all get in the standby line, OR go with out DH, OR all get in the stanby line and ride first then get your FP's.

Some other rides may not have a CM standing there preventing a FP runner from jumping ahead to meet up with the party at the standby line like at TSM, it's still a frowned upon thing.

 

[Diegosmom]

Oh forgot about Jeti Training....do we need our tickets for that? or could DH take tix to TSM fasatpass and DS and I go sign him up...or is there another chance later in the day?

Also if we did this by the time we got back to TSM would the standby line be really long (we are going in Sept)?