The wait when you return with fastpass?

[TammyC]

How long do you find the average wait time to be when you return with your fastpass? I keep reading what a great strategy it is to use fastpass during busy times. We used fastpass a few times when we went the first week of December. We often waited 15 to 20 minutes in the fastpass return line. Since this was considered a slow time of year, I wonder how long it might be during busier times?

 

[KBFinFan]

I really do enjoy FastPass, but I think of it as FasterPass..

Personally, I have never waited more than 15 minutes in a FastPass line, with that 15 minute time period being rare. I think it depends a lot on luck, and how many other people just happen to stroll along into the line with you. Also, I think some rides are just better at handling the FastPass system. Finally, a little tip that I think works, when you enter the FastPass line try to move quickly through it because the more people you get ahead of in the standby line the better off you will be, especially if you just miss being admitted into the regular line (like when the two lines join... hope I am somewhat clear).

Hope this helps a little..

 

[winniedapooh]

Christmas week with FP was the longest I have ever waited, 15 miuntes at Mickey's Philharmagic and BTM. Usually it is either a walk on or no more than a 5 minute wait!

 

[Grumpy37]

DS5 and I waited 20 minutes once in the fastpass line for Splash Mtn. It was over a 90 minute wait in the other line. Similar waits for Space Mtn.

BTW, we've always been able to use our FP after the timeframe on the pass.

 

[shortbun]

The only long wait I've ever had with FP was Mickey's Philharmagic. It was a really long wait too-like 40 minutes.
No one came forth with an explanation and I've read other
posts claiming long waits there. Otherwise, FP has been wonderful to us.

 

[noopy]

Can someone tell me more about what KBFinFan is trying to explain above (moving quickly through the FastPass line)? I'm going to WDW for the first time in two weeks, so I'm a rookie! Also, is how do you know which line is for FastPass users?
Thanks!

 

[Mich Mouse]

Fast pass entrances will be clearly marked by a sign, and there will be a "greeter" cast member to welcome you and check your fast pass return time tickets.

There is a stand-by line and a fast pass line and eventually, both lines will merge in to one. The quicker you move through the fast pass line, where there should be no wait, the quicker you will get on the merged line. The merged line is usually just a short distance from the ride/attraction entrance. I think the poster just meant not to dawdle on the FP line.....

 

[Straitlover]

One tip - don't show up right at the beginning of your window. Say your FP says be there between 1:05 and 2:05. Don't get there right around 1:05, as that is what most people do. You will have a longer wait. Wait maybe 15 min or so. That will also allow you to get another FP before you use the one you have.

 

[tjmw2727]

Some of the shows just guarantee you will get a seat at that show time - we have had to wait at WWTBAM and VOTLM but only for the one show - probably about 20 minutes.

The only other time we have waited with FP was at RNRC - long time standing in the fp return line. We found out later it was due to an earlier breakdown.

I have found that returning right at the beginning of the window results in a longer wait than returning toward the middlle of the return time. So for an 11:05-12:05 return time we would .return to use the fp about 11:30 or so. This also gives you time to get your next fp before riding!

TJ

 

[drogerstn]

Several posters mentioned that the FP line should be shorter when returning towards the middle of the return time instead of at the beginning. I don’t see the logic in this. The return times should be equally distributed. A person returning during the middle of their time window will be getting in line at what is the beginning time for a whole group of people who received their FP’s later. There are often groups of people at the FP return entrance waiting for their initial return time; typically, a new group becomes eligible to ride every 5-minutes, so maybe its best to arrive in between these 5-minute-on-the-hour increments…

We return when its fits our plans. Most of the time, we return after the initial time because we are normally eligible to pick up another FP at that time.

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

We waited 15-20 minutes on ToT with FPs last November. One of the elevators was out of commission at the time so I doubt that its usually that bad.

It seems to me that at some attractions, the FP line takes you right to the front of the line and on on others, you merge into the standby line near the front. On Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, we've walked through the FP line without stopping and then had to wait 5-10 minutes in the homestretch of the stand-by line in front of the holographic Buzz!

I do know for sure that its ALWAYS faster to use the FP than to go without!

 

[pouncingpluto]

Remember that you may have to wait longer at shows than you do at rides, since the cast member can't usher you into a show that's already going on. If it's a 15 or 20 minute show, and it just got underway, you're going to have to wait until the next one.

 

[shatzjsl]

Hmmm....thought I understood FP until I read about the lines merging. Does this mean that the people in the other line have to let you in line in front of them? Anybody run into problems with that?

 

[stinkerbelle]

there is a CM at the "merge"...so no, no one gets upset at this.

 

[GOBA Mom Lynn]

Iwouldn't say that people don't get upset, just that they don't have any choice, since like stinkerbelle said, a cm controlls the merging. We have gotten a few semi-dirty looks when the cm lets a whole bunch of fp people go ahead of the standby line. Fast pass people just shouldn't rub it in too much.

 

[shatzjsl]

ahhh..that makes sense. Thanks for the info!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by manchurianbrownbear
...It seems to me that at some attractions, the FP line takes you right to the front of the line and on on others, you merge into the standby line near the front. On Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, we've walked through the FP line without stopping and then had to wait 5-10 minutes in the homestretch of the stand-by line in front of the holographic Buzz!
I do know for sure that its ALWAYS faster to use the FP than to go without!

I think I can corfirm the it is almost alwats faster to FP. We get some limited FP priviledges with my DS's Guest Assistance Card, since he is wheelchair-bound and very photo-sensitive (being redheaded and all, the sun can be rough on us). Even tho we can use the FP lane in most cases anyway, it often takes us longer to baord certain rides due to limited availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles. For example, in Buzz Lightyear (DS's favorite!), we book it into the FP line, then wait our turn to get to the front of the line, and only then do the CMs take us thru the passageway to the other end of the ride to board the HC accessible car; and if both of the HC cars are working that day we can board maybe 5-10 mins later. Total elapsed time ~35 mins, when the standby line is at 30 mins. Of course the benefit is, if there is nobody waiting for the HC car, some CMs will let us ride again (since otherwise it would go thru the next cycle empty).