Please explain the Fastpass "strategy"

[JenniBB]

In the MK there are Fastpasses available for: Jungle Cruise in Adventureland, Splash Mountain and BMTRR in Frontierland, Peter Pan, Pooh, Mickey's Philharmagic in Fantasyland,and Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain in Tomorrowland.

Do you have someone from your party run through the park first thing collecting Fastpasses for ALL? or how do you get them? As you go to each land? Which do you do first?

We don't want to do a "commando" trip, but don't want to miss (or wait forever for) all the fun rides either!

 

[Ress76]

I'm sure someone will explain it more in-depth, but you can't collect all the FP you want at any given time. Get your first FP, and it will have a "you can get another FP at: "time on it. I believe that's 2 hours in the future. As soon as your FP time opens up, however, even if it is before 2 hours, you can then get another FP. So, say you get a FP for Mickey's Philharmagic (not that it really needs one) at 9:15. You FP return time is 10:35-11:35. You would be eligible to get another FP at 10:35....no need to wait until 11:15. The strategy, therefore, would be to get your first FP, ride whatever until the window opens, then get your next FP BEFORE utilizing the one you have, figuring 20-30 minutes of your wait for the next FP will be "used up" waiting in line and riding what your initial FP were for.

Also, a lot of people have said they can use there FP anytime after the window opens on the same day...so you could come back at 6:30 in the evening and use your FP then.

Ress

 

[vicki_c]

You can't get multiple attraction FPs at the same time. You can get a FP for AN attraction (and for all in your party). Then you have to wait until the time that the FP states to get another one.

That time will range (GENERALLY) from about 45 minutes away to 2 hours away (the max).

There are 2 times printed on the FP:
1 - time you can come back to ride the ride with the FP
2 - time you can pull another FP, for that attraction or any other one.

The FP machines for each ride are located near the ride entrances.

 

[JenniBB]

That clears up a lot, THANKS! :

So then what to get FP for first? I've seen most people recommending Peter Pan/Pooh OR Space Mtn as their first FPs of the day?

 

[devjam]

Also, I think that they only give out a certain number of FPs per time slot each day. So if a lot of people are getting FPs for a particular ride, the return time will get later and later in the day as more and more people get FPs, until eventually it just runs out of time.

 

[vicki_c]

That clears up a lot, THANKS! :

So then what to get FP for first? I've seen most people recommending Peter Pan/Pooh OR Space Mtn as their first FPs of the day?

At MK - Space Mtn (or Peter Pan), if you're riding those.
DHS - Toy Story Mania
Epcot - Soarin' or possibly Test Track
AK - Expedition Everest, or if you're not riding that, Kilimanjaro Safari

Those are the FPs for which the time to return/get another FP push out the fastest.

 

[MountNittany]

That clears up a lot, THANKS! :

So then what to get FP for first? I've seen most people recommending Peter Pan/Pooh OR Space Mtn as their first FPs of the day?

Pooh sometimes has around a 20 minute wait time, you just have to be in the right place at the right time (like a parade). I'd get a fastpass for Peter Pan or Space first because they always seem to have a really long line.

I agree with all of vicki's rides. Soarin' and TSM are always long, and you should get a fastpass for EE.

 

[trapad419]

This just made me think of a problem I had not thought of until now. Our DD (16) and her BFF are going to be in the same parks as us - but not necessarily doing the same rides. Refresh my memory, do you have to slide in the card for each member of the party wanting the FP? Or does one card spit out FP's for each member (kind of like when you pay for meals using the DP - you can just use one card).

 

[CLEO Z]

This just made me think of a problem I had not thought of until now. Our DD (16) and her BFF are going to be in the same parks as us - but not necessarily doing the same rides. Refresh my memory, do you have to slide in the card for each member of the party wanting the FP? Or does one card spit out FP's for each member (kind of like when you pay for meals using the DP - you can just use one card).

One FP per card.

 

[MountNittany]

This just made me think of a problem I had not thought of until now. Our DD (16) and her BFF are going to be in the same parks as us - but not necessarily doing the same rides. Refresh my memory, do you have to slide in the card for each member of the party wanting the FP? Or does one card spit out FP's for each member (kind of like when you pay for meals using the DP - you can just use one card).

One card gives you one FP

 

[trapad419]

Thank YOU!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I would start in one land (like Tomorrowland) and get FPs for Space Mt. then immediately head to Buzz Lightyear. You might not need a FP for Buzz. You can always get one after Space Mt. if you want to go on again.

As soon as you're eligible I would move to get FPs for one of the Mountains and then enjoy Fantasyland. If it is still early, you should be ok. I've never done FP for Philharmagic, it lets a lot of people in for one show.

Our philosophy is to try to ALWAYS have a FP for something in your hand

 

[DebbieB]

At MK, I head for Space Mt first and get a fastpass. Then head to the back of the park, you can sometimes ride Splash Mt or BTMRR early without a fastpass. Or maybe Pooh along the way if you want to ride it. If you are there at opening, the FP for Space Mt will probably be within an hour so when that comes up I would grab a PP fastpass. Hit Haunted Mansion either before or after getting the PP fastpass, maybe Small World. The key is to plan so that you can get another fastpass when the time comes up. In the morning, the times are usually not more than 2 hours unless you are there at a busy time.

 

[MountNittany]

At MK, I head for Space Mt first and get a fastpass.

It's natural tendency to start on the right, so the lines are shorter in Frontierland. That's why they don't open up Adventureland until later.

 

[ftlee]

Most people don't realize that you can use FASTPASSes for "rides" any time on the day they were issued (as long as it is AFTER the start time window). They won't let you do this for "shows" but, we had zero issues on rides.

i.e. The very first thing I did at the MK was get FPs for Space Mountain while the family was headed to Dumbo (I made it back to take pictures of them riding Dumbo). At 9:40 (next available FP time), I got FPs for Splash Mountain. The family and I did the rest of Fantasyland together and on our way to a 4-hour break, we picked up FPs to BTRR.

When we came back from out 4-hour break, we rode Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and BTRR in about 45-minutes. We did this at all of the parks (collect FPs in the morning, use them in the afternoon/evening) the whole trip and not one issue.