Speed passes and how to use them?

[moonbill2002]

My cousin got us about 10 speed passes. He says each one is good for up to 6 people and they work like front of the line passes? I guess like Fast passes only you don't have to get a fastpass? He said they are like a promotional thing or something they will give out for people being inconvenienced, etc. Anyone know about these and if so, what would be the best strategy for using them? We don't want to "waste" them on rides we could easily get fastpasses for, etc. We will be there Mon-Thurs of next week, so I imagine it's going to be pretty busy.

 

[scanmom]

Never heard of them. and I have heard/read everything about Disney parks that I can get my hands on! LOL

 

[Gisele]

I have not heard of those either. Is it new or what? I can tell you that if unless you are handicapped, no one is going to be liking nor agreeing with other guests blowing by you to the front of the line. No way Jose.... and Jose agrees too! Anyway, you can call DGS to ask about it. I just don't think that these types of passes exist. Other than in the world of fiction anyway. But good luck all the same!

 

[HarryMoose]

Never heard of them, but I do know there are 2 kinds of magic fast passes. Some are the same size as a normal park ticket, and what you do is put it in the machine and they spit out a fp for that time. No waiting. The only problem is they still need to be giving out fast passes in order to use them. If they are out for the day, they won't work. Each ticket was good for 2 fp.

Now the ones that DL hotel gave us were bigger, they didn't fit in a machine. Those you just take the normal pass to the fp line. They let you in. There are some that don't have fp, but they work for them. There you use the guest assistance entrance. They only worked once.

We got some as consolations from 1st aid. Those were written out on a pad (like a Rx) and good for up to 6 people. Those you just took to the fp line, no need to get one out of the machine.

So it depends on what kind they are. My guess yours are the kind you just need to bring to the fp line, but check 1st just to be sure. FP for the day can run out fast and if they are the kind that you need to exchange you don't want to be stuck.

They can really come in handy. Don't waste them. Make the most of them. My suggestion is use one for Star Tours since the fast passes for them seem to be gone by 11:00 am and the line just to get fast passes can be 15 min.

 

[disneyfanzz]

A cast member gave two of those to our family after I helped a lost boy find his parents. We could use it on anything. It was late at night, but we chose Space Mountain and the Nemo Submarines. We were taken right to the front of the line. I got the idea that they are not given out that much. I'm not sure how a person would get 10 of them.

 

[Malcon10t]

We get them occasionally. They are purple. It is usually good for 6 people to use the fastpass line anytime. The CM giving them out usually put a ride name on them, and usually Star Tours and Toy Story Mania are not included.

 

[halfwaynowhere]

we got one yesterday after waiting in the long line for Roger Rabbit, only to have the ride break down. We were originally given the option to leave or wait, and we waited, and after a while, they gave us these and had us leave. We used ours on Splash Mountain.

 

[HarryMoose]

We get them occasionally. They are purple. It is usually good for 6 people to use the fastpass line anytime. The CM giving them out usually put a ride name on them, and usually Star Tours and Toy Story Mania are not included.

The ones you get for staying at DL hotels are good for Little Merrmaid and star tours. We got a Toy Story one as one of the 1st aid passes, but mostly because we just got there when I got sick and DD didn't know any other rides to ask for. She knew Toy Story form WDW so she asked for that.

I can see how the ones giving out for ride shut downs wouldn't be ok for the really popular rides unless that was the line you were actually standing in when you got the pass.

To the OP, is there an expiration date on them?? The one they gave us at Toy Story Mania they let us use a few days later with out a problem.

 

[Disney Dreams]

My cousin got us about 10 speed passes. He says each one is good for up to 6 people and they work like front of the line passes? I guess like Fast passes only you don't have to get a fastpass? He said they are like a promotional thing or something they will give out for people being inconvenienced, etc. Anyone know about these and if so, what would be the best strategy for using them? We don't want to "waste" them on rides we could easily get fastpasses for, etc. We will be there Mon-Thurs of next week, so I imagine it's going to be pretty busy.

The only thing that I know of that is similar to what you are describing is as Malcon10t and halfwaynowhere described. Usually they are given out very sparingly. How did you cousin get you 10?? And as stated above, I would check the expiration date.

- Dreams

 

[moonbill2002]

He obtained them from his best friend's son, who works at Disneyland. He said all we have to do is fill out the date (the guy left that part blank) and said the rest of it is filled out. It sounds like the same thing other posters were describing....he said they give them out when people have to wait a long time and then a ride breaks down, etc. I don't know how he got 10 of them but he did make a point of saying not to pull all of them out at once when we get to a ride. He said people might get a "little upset" and to just have one in our hand at a time, instead of flashing the whole lot of them.

 

[jetskigrl]

He obtained them from his best friend's son, who works at Disneyland. He said all we have to do is fill out the date (the guy left that part blank) and said the rest of it is filled out. It sounds like the same thing other posters were describing....he said they give them out when people have to wait a long time and then a ride breaks down, etc. I don't know how he got 10 of them but he did make a point of saying not to pull all of them out at once when we get to a ride. He said people might get a "little upset" and to just have one in our hand at a time, instead of flashing the whole lot of them.

In all honesty, I would be careful about posting this on a message board. What it sounds like happened was the CM (best friend's son) just took 10 of these off his pad and handed them over. If this is the case, I would imagine that if management found out, he could be fired. I believe the CM has to sign them also. We actually had a CM that questioned how we got one of ours once when we used it. That made me a little uncomfortable even though we had been given it for a legitimate reason.

As for their use, they are basically a front of the line pass. We have received them a few times in the past (such as when we floated around the hippo pool for 45 minutes after our Jungle Cruise boat jumped the tracks, LOL). They can be used at non-FP rides by going through the exit of the ride. For FP rides, you would use the FP line.

Normally, if they are given for legitimate reasons, the CM will exclude the current "hot" ride, such as Star Tours or TSMM. But if nothing is hand-written on the front saying that, they will be good for any ride.

Like you noted, the CM will usually put the date on it and it is only good for that day (unless you find a CM on a later day who accepts it anyway).

 

[Disney Dreams]

He obtained them from his best friend's son, who works at Disneyland. He said all we have to do is fill out the date (the guy left that part blank) and said the rest of it is filled out. It sounds like the same thing other posters were describing....he said they give them out when people have to wait a long time and then a ride breaks down, etc. I don't know how he got 10 of them but he did make a point of saying not to pull all of them out at once when we get to a ride. He said people might get a "little upset" and to just have one in our hand at a time, instead of flashing the whole lot of them.

I'm not sure how to tactfully say this, but since you don't seem to be treating this very discretely, neither will I.

"...obtained them from his best friend's son who works at Disneyland." "...when people wait a long time..." "...not to pull them all out at once....". All of these statements add up (to me) as these are something you should not really have.

How / if you use them is going to be something you will need to resolve internally I guess, but it doesn't sound like something you should have 10 of from what you have said.

- Dreams

 

[moonbill2002]

My apologies...I wasn't intentionally trying to be rude. I was not made aware of exactly what they were and didn't realize I was doing anything wrong. We will not be using these then because if it's going to get someone fired, then it's obviously not something we are supposed to be doing. Again, I am very sorry.

ETA: my husband is a disabled veteran and handicapped. We have never used that as an excuse to jump the line, so to speak. I really hope that people are not getting the wrong idea and if we had a clue that what we were given was considered "wrong", we would never have accepted his offer.

 

[Disney Dreams]

My apologies...I wasn't intentionally trying to be rude. I was not made aware of exactly what they were and didn't realize I was doing anything wrong. We will not be using these then because if it's going to get someone fired, then it's obviously not something we are supposed to be doing. Again, I am very sorry.

No need to apologize. From what you are describing, this is the conclusion we have arrived at as to what you have. Maybe ask your cousin's best friend to confirm. Or... Take one to one attraction and ask a CM in person what to do with it. Then you will know for sure.

if they are what we think, you might do your cousin's best friend's son a favor by mentioning to your cousin's best friend that something doesn't sound right.

- Dreams

 

[moonbill2002]

Okay, thanks. I really have no intention of doing things "unfairly". We paid for Flashpasses at Magic Mountain, even though with my husband's disability, we would have qualified for front of the line, etc. He HATES anyone even making reference to his status and the only time we use his handicapped placard is when we go to big theme parks. I had a friend tell me to get my doctor to write a note regarding my anxiety disorder and that would get us front of the line passes at Disneyland (she does it every time she goes). I was appalled because I don't consider that a valid reason to not have to wait in line, even though I do panic and have to practice A LOT of breathing techniques Thank you again for the suggestion and we will follow up on that. If they are what ya'll say they are, I don't want to be using them, especially if they are going to get somebody fired.

 

[HarryMoose]

Okay, thanks. I really have no intention of doing things "unfairly". We paid for Flashpasses at Magic Mountain, even though with my husband's disability, we would have qualified for front of the line, etc. He HATES anyone even making reference to his status and the only time we use his handicapped placard is when we go to big theme parks. I had a friend tell me to get my doctor to write a note regarding my anxiety disorder and that would get us front of the line passes at Disneyland (she does it every time she goes). I was appalled because I don't consider that a valid reason to not have to wait in line, even though I do panic and have to practice A LOT of breathing techniques Thank you again for the suggestion and we will follow up on that. If they are what ya'll say they are, I don't want to be using them, especially if they are going to get somebody fired.

It seems like your friend knows you guys could benefit from them, but didn't want special treatment. They seem to hand these out a lot at DL, and I would not worry one second about using them. We were given a number of them (from 1st aid and from our front desk.) As I said before they pass ones out to resort guests staying on property. So there are a number of them floating around and I don't think other park visitors will think twice about it. It seems like more people were using GAC at DL then I have ever seen at WDW. One lady in front of us just pointed to her walking cast and the CM let her in the FP line.

The thing is in our experience the line waits aren't too bad. You also have normal fast passes you can use for your park tickets.

Enjoy your trip. In our recent experience (we just got back from our 1st DLR vacation) DL is much easier and less pressured of a vacation. You don't really need to plan out every step of the day.

Have a great time!

 

[kiwitravel]

You should not feel bad as you obviously did not know...

However when you get to DL go to Guest Services and obtain a Guest Assistance Card for your father... This he is entitled (and deservingly so) to. It will allow you the same advantages the tickets your cousin gave you and it will be legit... You can then only use it where the lines are long and may be uncomfortable for your father.

Return the other tickets to your cousin and do not mention it to DL as someone who may have the best intentions could find themselves in trouble...

 

[jetskigrl]

Okay, thanks. I really have no intention of doing things "unfairly". We paid for Flashpasses at Magic Mountain, even though with my husband's disability, we would have qualified for front of the line, etc. He HATES anyone even making reference to his status and the only time we use his handicapped placard is when we go to big theme parks. I had a friend tell me to get my doctor to write a note regarding my anxiety disorder and that would get us front of the line passes at Disneyland (she does it every time she goes). I was appalled because I don't consider that a valid reason to not have to wait in line, even though I do panic and have to practice A LOT of breathing techniques Thank you again for the suggestion and we will follow up on that. If they are what ya'll say they are, I don't want to be using them, especially if they are going to get somebody fired.

Whether or not a CM could get fired for that is purely speculation on my part. They could very well be given a number that they are allowed to hand out and this is perfectly OK with Disney. It just seems, (in my opinion, of course), that this may be someone doing you a favor by bending the rules a bit. Again, that also comes from the post where it was indicated not to be holding the whole stack at one time, etc.

If it was me, I would just ask the person who gave them to you to confirm that the CM is not doing anything wrong and he won't get in trouble for giving them out. If the CM confirms it is no problem then go ahead and use them.

 

[Malcon10t]

I had a friend tell me to get my doctor to write a note regarding my anxiety disorder and that would get us front of the line passes at Disneyland (she does it every time she goes).

You won't get front of the line, but will get a pass to wait in a separate area so your anxiety won't kick up. Because of this your wait may be slightly shorter, or it could be slightly longer. (Fantasyland tends to be slightly shorter, POTC, Space Mountain, IASW tend to be longer.)

If you need the Guest Assistance Card to help, please use it, it isn't an excuse. But don't expect to be front of the line.

 

[rentayenta]

My apologies...I wasn't intentionally trying to be rude. I was not made aware of exactly what they were and didn't realize I was doing anything wrong. We will not be using these then because if it's going to get someone fired, then it's obviously not something we are supposed to be doing. Again, I am very sorry.

ETA: my husband is a disabled veteran and handicapped. We have never used that as an excuse to jump the line, so to speak. I really hope that people are not getting the wrong idea and if we had a clue that what we were given was considered "wrong", we would never have accepted his offer.

You have no reason to apologize. Enjoy your many passes and have a magical trip.