strategies for fastpass

[3kidz4dis]

This is the first time I have gone to Disney with the fastpass system. Can anyone offer any "strategies" or the best way to use the system. TIA!

 

[MouseWorshipin]

The Unofficial Guide tells of rides where you can get another FP immediately. It might have been the Jungle Cruise.

Remember that you can get another one as soon as the one you have reaches it's time mark. If you can use it between 2:05 and 3:05, you could get another one at 2:05, THEN go ride the first one. It can be a time-saver.

The only other way I've figured out to double-up on FPs is to buy a second ticket. But that's pretty expensive!

I always cut through Adventureland on my way to Splash Mountain and pick up FPs for the Jungle Cruise. Then we go ride SM, Haunted Mansion, see the Country Bears, and go back to the Jungle Cruise. If there is time before the Jungle Cruise, we ride Pirates. If not, we skip it.

If you end up with FPs that you won't be able to use, give them away! If I'm about to leave and not too tired, I'll get some FPs for whatever we're close to and give them to people coming in. They always appreciate it.

 

[airtime]

FP on ToT, ride RnRC, get FP on RnRC, use FP on ToT, etc...

You can do the same with Splash Mtn & BTMRR or Space Mtn & Buzz or Test Track & Mission: Space. If you like to ride these attractions a lot, this can give you a chance to do it with minimal waiting times.

Tim, who can't remember how many times he has ridden back and forth on ToT and RnRC.

 

[TMJR]

I totally agree with giving away those extra fast passes...it is one of my favorite things to do!

 

[ralfrick]

Regardless of what anyone else may say, you can use them late but not early. As long as you've reached the opening of the window, it is the policy of WDW and Disneyland to take them until that day ends. There have been isolated instances from WDW of a new CM that didn't know this, or an attraction that was down and won't accept them until they catch up. I have never heard of a late one being refused in DL. We twice used FPs gotten at park opening after sunset this past July.

Cheers

 

[gabesmom]

We're planning first trip since FPs too and a friend told me to be sure to use all of our park passes for FP at all times. For instance, his DD-4 didn't want to ride anything in MGM but his DS-12 wanted to do both the rollercoaster and tower of terror. They used DS' key to get FP for the coaster and DD' key to get FP for the TT and he got on both within a relatively short period of time. He also said they do that when DW takes DD back for a nap. I guess that would work.


I guess that could work elsewhere as well...

 

[BlueSpecV]

The only other way I've figured out to double-up on FPs is to buy a second ticket. But that's pretty expensive!

Actually, that doesn't work either. I had 4 tickets one day in the parks, as the rest of my family decided to stay home. As my ticket was the only one scanned in at the front gate, it was the only one available to obtain fastpass.

 

[seashoreCM]

Actually, that doesn't work either. I had 4 tickets one day in the parks, as the rest of my family decided to stay home. As my ticket was the only one scanned in at the front gate, it was the only one available to obtain fastpass.

If you really want to pay twice as much for admission you can buy two tickets for yourself. You enter the park with one ticket, lose yourself in the crowd, do an about face and exit the park, then re-enter the park with the other ticket. Now you can get fast passes with both tickets.

Standby lines move faster during the first hour of the park day because there are no matured fast passes out there yet. You may want to hold off using your first and second fast passes and wait in the standby lines instead during the first hour or two after the park opens. Then, when standby lines get longer, start using your accumulated fast passes. You should still use each fast pass before it expires since on occasion you are denied use of it later in the day

If you arrive at park opening and immediately get a fast pass to something, the return time and therefore the time for next fast pass will be well under the two hour maximum delay. There is an incentive for off site guests to avoid the park with early extra magic hour since the resort guests will have had a head start to get fast passes and push the return times out later when off site guests finally get inside.

 

[auntyjenn]

We had fifteen people in my party and only four of us were in to the big FP rides so it was awesome!

 

[uno-mavs]

We're planning first trip since FPs too and a friend told me to be sure to use all of our park passes for FP at all times. For instance, his DD-4 didn't want to ride anything in MGM but his DS-12 wanted to do both the rollercoaster and tower of terror. They used DS' key to get FP for the coaster and DD' key to get FP for the TT and he got on both within a relatively short period of time. He also said they do that when DW takes DD back for a nap. I guess that would work.

So if I do that, do I leave my ticket in the park with my husband so he can FP with it while I put down the baby? Then how do I get back in?

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

I always have great luck with fast pass..alot of people say you can get another one as soon as the time on your current one comes around not alot of people know that you can get a second one once an hour has passed from the first fastpass time . EX your at Epcot and get a an FP for TestTrack..it is 9 am but you fast pss isnt available till 10:30 ...you dont have to wait till then....once the cloack strikes 10:00 you are eligible to get a second fast pass

and being a little OT...if there are any other UNI fan out there...have you noticed that they have done away with the free Express Passes? now the only way to get them is to pay $30 for a book of one time use vouchers or to stay onsite! ...I hope disney doesnt follow that route!

 

[gabesmom]

About letting your DH or DW use your key for FP when you're taking a break from the parks, the friend who had suggested said they always buy park hopper passes and just meet somewhere outside the park if she decides to come back in that day...Usually though, he said, they just meet back up at the resort. Don't know if this works or not... Maybe some folks more familiar with it could comment...

 

[magicalmickey]

Use fastpass mainly on the attractions that have slower loading (meaning longer waits). Some attractions that offer fastpass, you really won't need them on because of faster loading/ shorter lines. So don't waste your fastpass options on those attractions.

Some popular attractions that I've rarely/never needed fastpass on (but they're offered are: Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Dinosaur, Tough to be a Bug, Haunted Mansion, Small World, Pirates of the Carribean, Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.

These can go either way: Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Mickey's Philharmagic, Kilimanjaro Safaris

These I have always needed fastpass on: Test Track, Soarin', Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Living with the Land

Of course I always go during the off-season so this only applies to that. During peak seasons, you may need fastpass for virtually everything.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Keep in mind that if the parks isn't that busy, FP may not even be available.

 

[mel]

We got fast passes before we took a mid day break and when we came back to the park, they let us use them even though it was past the time alotted on the fast pass. We like them, and use them every time we go.

 

[seashoreCM]

Inot alot of people know that you can get a second one once an hour has passed from the first fastpass time . EX your at Epcot and get a an FP for TestTrack..it is 9 am but you fast pss isnt available till 10:30 ...you dont have to wait till then....once the clock strikes 10:00 you are eligible to get a second fast pass!

Only if your fast pass says so, or if "unadvertised earlier next fetch" is in effect for the specific ride you are trying to get a fast pass for. This depends on how busy that ride is and how busy the park is. The maximum time between fast passes is about two hours, when the come back time is greater than two hours away.

Figuring out the "unadvertised earlier next fetch" time is inexact at best. You can make a guess by watching someone else get a fast pass. If his printed next fetch time is just 55 minutes "from "now", then you will proably be able to get a fast pass for that ride 55 minutes from when you got your last fast pass.

(AFAIK Lights Motors at Disney Studios always has an UENF time of about five minutes.)

 

[auntyjenn]

You can pass tickets back accross the gate to people. My husband ran the half marathon and I forgot to leave him his ticket so we just handed it to him accross the check-in gate (or you could go out and come back in)

 

[zachnlucy]

Keep in mind that if the parks isn't that busy, FP may not even be available.

Is that true? I've never read that before.

 

[eeyore45]

Just my experience with FP in Oct -

I had tried to use my FP for Soarin - it was past the return time - the CM at the entry to Soarin FP wouldnt let me on, noting that it was expired, and something about the wording on the back... I had never experienced being turned away when my FP had "expired", it may be due to the popularity of this attraction - just dont count on being able to use an "expired" FP if it says return time is between.... such and such.... be prepared to either use it, or loose it... and again, it may be more for the "popular" (ie Soarin and now EE)

 

[Goofy4]

Is that true? I've never read that before.

We chatted up a CM at the Jungle Cruise. Apparently, he had some sayso as to if/when to take the covers off the FP machines. On a slow day, I suppose they may never come off.