Soarin'-Test Track-Fastpasses - help!

[lacy1101]

I'm so confused! If we get FP for Soarin' upon entering Epcot and then ride Soarin', approximately what time will our FP return time be? Will we have time to cross the park, ride Test Track and possibly Mission Space before our return time to Soarin'? If so, will we be able to get a Test Track FP before or after riding Test Track before we cross the park to ride Soarin' again (in other words, will our Soarin' return window have opened so we can get a FP for Test Track)? I really hope this makes sense to somebody!

I'm assuming we need to try to do all 3 of these before anything else, i.e. Living w/theLand, Honey I Shrunk, Spaceship Earth etc.?

 

[saschab]

I really hope this makes sense to somebody!

It does to me....'cuz I've been wondering the same.

I know somebody will have the answer.

 

[phantom728]

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the FP will still be good even after your assigned hour of time begins. It's mostly just used for people to have a staggered return time.

Can anyone confirm this? We've gone in Sept and not needed the FP's.

 

[i<3Disney]

Phew! You threw a mouth full out there. I will try to help though. When we go to Epcot, we always get a FP for Soarin, ride it, then run over to Test Track. The stand by line for Test Track at this point is virtually a walk on because of a mad dash to Soarin'. By the time you ride Test Track and Mission Space, chances are (and have always been with me) that your Soarin' time would be up.

Did that help? Hope I didn't make everything more confusing!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Your FPs will be good beyond the ending time. There are two schools of thought on this here on the boards, but there are many reports of people using "expired" FPs in scenarios such as yours.

 

[ougrad86]

It just depends on how many have been dispensed. We went to Soarin', getting a fast pass on our way in, and I cannot for the live of me remember the return time window. But getting a fast pass got us in a second time pretty quick, instead of waiting till we got out.
I think if you have really good legs, you can run in, grab a fast pass for Soarin' and have time to sprint across the park to grab Test Track. Not sure about Mission:Space, I didn't try it last time I was there. I have heard that the fastpasses for Soarin' go very quickly. We FP'd back and forth between Soarin' and Test Track the whole time we were in FW, doing Innoventions and Living Seas and stuff in between.

 

[i<3Disney]

Your FPs will be good beyond the ending time. There are two schools of thought on this here on the boards, but there are many reports of people using "expired" FPs in scenarios such as yours.

I was a CM and we were instructed to take expired fastpasses (not ones from years ago, mind you, just from earlier in the day!)

 

[horseshowmom]

I was a CM and we were instructed to take expired fastpasses (not ones from years ago, mind you, just from earlier in the day!)

 

[magiroux]

Since April I have visited Epcot about six times. Each time I was one of the first, if not THE first, people at the FP machine. My return time has always been 9:40am (8:40 when the park opened at 8AM Easter).

 

[rlovew]

If you get a FP as you enter the park with rope drop you return time will be for between 10 and 10:30. You can then ride Soarin (getting off about 9:20). Walk quickly across the park and get in line for TT (getting off about 9:55ish). Then head over to MS (which has been virtually walk on the last number of times we have been to EPCOT (10:15). At this point you could have the ability to get new FP for TT depending on your return time- the bggest thing you will hjave missed and will have a long line at the point is Tutlre Talk (you may now have a 30 minute line along with a 15 minute show for a total of 45 minutes to experience this- which in my opion is better than TT).

 

[akalittleeva]

Phew! You threw a mouth full out there. I will try to help though. When we go to Epcot, we always get a FP for Soarin, ride it, then run over to Test Track. The stand by line for Test Track at this point is virtually a walk on because of a mad dash to Soarin'. By the time you ride Test Track and Mission Space, chances are (and have always been with me) that your Soarin' time would be up.

Did that help? Hope I didn't make everything more confusing!

That is my plan - glad to hear it has worked in the past. I'm going in mid November - any guess how long it will take to get that done on an EMH morning?

 

[kidsgobears]

I've seen this on a couple other threads where it was recommended to first get FP for Soarin' and then ride Soarin'. What would happen if you ride Soarin' and then get the FP for Soarin' before heading over to TT. It sounds like the standby line gets long quickly and it would be better to ride first and then get a FP. What am I missing that is obvious to everyone else? Thanks.

 

[magiroux]

If you get a FP as you enter the park with rope drop you return time will be for between 10 and 10:30. You can then ride Soarin (getting off about 9:20). Walk quickly across the park and get in line for TT (getting off about 9:55ish). Then head over to MS (which has been virtually walk on the last number of times we have been to EPCOT (10:15). At this point you could have the ability to get new FP for TT depending on your return time- the bggest thing you will hjave missed and will have a long line at the point is Tutlre Talk (you may now have a 30 minute line along with a 15 minute show for a total of 45 minutes to experience this- which in my opion is better than TT).

rlovew is giving some very sound touring advise here.....

Just throwing a few more options out here. Providing you are the at the FP machines with the front of the pack, your return time is 9:40am (this has always been my retrun time if I am at the rope)....

After you grab your FP, get in standby line, ride Soarin and then you could either:

1. send your party to Turtle Talk to save a place in line (first showing is not untill 10:am. One person goes over to grab FP's at TT at 9:45am (when your allowed to receive your next FP). As long as you are at the machines at 9:45, that gives you 10 minutes to go back to Turtle Talk to catch up with your party. I have done this six times and have always made it back with 5 mins to spare .

2. go in standby to ride TT, after exiting TT you shouldbe eligible for another FP. I would grab another one (ETA) for TT before I rode MissionSpace on standby.

Either option should work depending on your preference

Got all that??? And you thought you were going to confuse us

 

[erikthewise]

Since you asked: If you are the first person in the park and go immediately to Soarin' for a fastpass, your return window will be roughly 9:45-10:45.

Yes, it does make sense to do Soarin' and Test Track first. But be aware that Turtle Talk with Crush can also develop long waits. I'm not sure when the first show is, but this is definitely something to do early in the day.

 

[lacy1101]

I've seen this on a couple other threads where it was recommended to first get FP for Soarin' and then ride Soarin'. What would happen if you ride Soarin' and then get the FP for Soarin' before heading over to TT. It sounds like the standby line gets long quickly and it would be better to ride first and then get a FP. What am I missing that is obvious to everyone else? Thanks.

I think the idea is that one person in your group can go to the FP machine while the rest of you are in line to ride.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I think I've got my game plan now (or my boss's plan, that is - I'm working on an itinerary for his family's trip in a week.

 

[lacy1101]

Since you asked: If you are the first person in the park and go immediately to Soarin' for a fastpass, your return window will be roughly 9:45-10:45.

Yes, it does make sense to do Soarin' and Test Track first. But be aware that Turtle Talk with Crush can also develop long waits. I'm not sure when the first show is, but this is definitely something to do early in the day.

Until I started planning our trip last fall, I hadn't even heard of Turtle Talk or Crush and it was not showing while were there due to refurbishment of the Living Seas (I think). Anyway, my boss's children are 13, 9, and 9. Is this something they will want to see? I still don't really know who he is. Is this from Playhouse Disney or something like that?

 

[kidsgobears]

I think the idea is that one person in your group can go to the FP machine while the rest of you are in line to ride.

Thanks for the reply! That makes sense, but since it'll just be DS8, DS6, and me, we can't split up. Maybe we'll ride first and then grab FPs for later (if we liked it as much as I think we will).

 

[magiroux]

Crush is the Turtle in Finding Nemo. He is the one Nemo is riding on the back of after the jellyfish encounter scene.

Your boss' kids will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this. It is not to be missed. Unfortunately, it is very popular and held in the smallest theatre you can imagine. Unless you get in line for the first or second show it is a long, boring wait. There is another popular attraction (names escapes me at the moment)opening up at The Living Seas Pavillion soon. Don't know how that will effect Turtle Talk crowds.

 

[flortlebap]

It depends on crowd levels too...

Some days you will get a FP at 12:00 for 8:00 that night! And on others, your window will be 13:00-14:00. If it's the latter, it would be good from 13:00 until park close (90% of the time), but if it's the former, you'd have a LONG wait ahead of you with no more FP's for a while!

 

[marciemi]

Until I started planning our trip last fall, I hadn't even heard of Turtle Talk or Crush and it was not showing while were there due to refurbishment of the Living Seas (I think). Anyway, my boss's children are 13, 9, and 9. Is this something they will want to see? I still don't really know who he is. Is this from Playhouse Disney or something like that?

Just to give you another perspective. We went in Jan 2005 and my boys were 9, 11, and almost 13. We saw Turtle Talk (and they all enjoyed the movie), but we all agreed that it was cute and enjoyable, but by no means a "must-see". I'm pretty sure they won't really want to do it on our next visit, especially if it means any kind of wait. It really seemed to be geared to the 3-7 year old crowd or so - the ones young enough to truly believe Crush was talking to them. I'm not bashing it at all - it was fun and different from the normal hectic Disney rides, but when we saw it the theater was half full. I think it would be less enjoyable if you were crammed in there with no defined seating as I recall. Maybe ask your boss how much his kids enjoyed the movie? And if they're more "younger, Disney lovers" or "older, cooler/sophisticated humor" types?