unlimited fast pass

[being-dragged-to-DL]

Do I have to go thru AAA to get this? The guy on the phone at disneyland just told me you can ONLY get fastpass thru AAA. That just sucks. They quoted me $300 MORE than I could get the same thing for online. Rip off.

 

[iceskatejen]

There's no such thing as unlimited fastpass. To get "enhanced fastpass", yes, you have to go through AAA and stay onsite (enhanced FP means you can hold 1 FP per valid admission per FP ride at one time, as opposed to what everyone else gets). Regular fastpass is available to anyone with valid park admission and is free.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Are you sure you compared apples to apples?

Jack

 

[CalGal]

$300 difference really surprises me. Usually AAA meets or beats the Disneyland.com online rate for the same hotel and view. Expedia may beat AAA when the hotels are underbooked, but the hotels haven't been underbooked much this year. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples (same hotel, view, etc.) The rate you were quoted through AAA is likely all inclusive (tax, resort fees).

Enhanced FP is very nice, especially during the busy season, but not $300 nice.

 

[CalGal]

Are you sure you compared apples to apples?

Jack

OK, that's not fair! That's just what I was typing!

 

[blackjackdelta]

$300 difference really surprises me. Usually AAA meets or beats the Disneyland.com online rate for the same hotel and view. Expedia may beat AAA when the hotels are underbooked, but the hotels haven't been underbooked much this year. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples (same hotel, view, etc.) The rate you were quoted through AAA is likely all inclusive (tax, resort fees).

Enhanced FP is very nice, especially during the busy season, but not $300 nice.

I have to agree with you. EP not worth $300 when the reg FP work just fine. I just do not type alot most of the time.

Jack

 

[being-dragged-to-DL]

When i questioned the AAA gal, she simply said she didnt think we were comparing apples to apples but never bothered getting back to me! We were emailing. I guess I got a little irritated. I think it was becasue she knew she over quoted me. The trips looked the exact same, even the flight times... except for those AAA perks: FP, pin, lanyard etc. What a pain in the foot this is. I wish I had unlimited funds and didnt have to shop around! Wouldnt that be fun?!

 

[HydroGuy]

I have to agree with you. EP not worth $300 when the reg FP work just fine. I just do not type alot most of the time.

Jack

I have never used EFP, and am inclined to agree with you - almost. If a person is already wanting to stay at a DLR hotel, then EFP is a no brainer, IMO. Get it. If you are trading off DLR hotel vs good neighbor, then for me it is not worth it. Heck, for the extra hotel cost we can stay a whole another day at the parks at a non-DLR hotel.

But one really neat thing you can do with EFP relates to park hopping - and that is why I hedge when I talk about EFP. Say everyone in your group goes into DL in the morning. Sometime after DCA opens, you send your FP runner over there and they can get FPs for everything in one trip. Then you can go to DCA mid-day or evening and you are all setup with FPs. This would take a lot of work with regular FP, but could be done. So EFP does have a place.

 

[Leofoenget]

Can someone PLEASE explain to me the difference between the normal AAA multiple fast pass option that comes with buying a ticket at AAA, and the AAA EFP, besides staying at one of the hotels. ( I get that part)

Maybe I will go to AAA today and ask the lady.

 

[mom2dzb]

Now I'm confused. When I was getting quotes for our upcoming trip, I specifically asked the AAA agent if the package she was quoting me had the special fastpass included. She said that as long as I was staying at a Disney resort I'd get the special fastpass. I asked her if I'd get that same fastpass if I booked elsewhere. She reiterated that however I booked a Disney room with a ticket, I'd have the special fastpass option.

 

[HydroGuy]

Now I'm confused. When I was getting quotes for our upcoming trip, I specifically asked the AAA agent if the package she was quoting me had the special fastpass included. She said that as long as I was staying at a Disney resort I'd get the special fastpass. I asked her if I'd get that same fastpass if I booked elsewhere. She reiterated that however I booked a Disney room with a ticket, I'd have the special fastpass option.

Either she mis-spoke, or you mis-heard. It has to be thru AAA, a DLR hotel and entrance tickets bought as a package.

 

[HydroGuy]

Can someone PLEASE explain to me the difference between the normal AAA multiple fast pass option that comes with buying a ticket at AAA, and the AAA EFP, besides staying at one of the hotels. ( I get that part)

Maybe I will go to AAA today and ask the lady.

There are two and only two FastPass options at DLR. One is the regular FP - available to everyone at no extra charge. This has nothing to do with AAA. This allows you to get multiple FPs.

Then there is the recent (since 2004) Enhanced FastPass (EFP). To get this you must book your trip thru AAA, stay at a DLR hotel for at least two nights, and get a hotel/ticket package. EFP allows you to get FPs more efficiently. Note that you cannot get this perk thru Disney. Just AAA. Disney made this agreement with AAA for some reason.

For details on EFP and regular FP, see these two links:

"The Joy of FASTPASS - details and secrets"
http://www.micechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5720

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season"
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

 

[my3kids]

You USED to be able to get the special fast pass deal just with tickets from AAA. We booked everything seperately last time and loved every bit of those elusive AAA tickets. Now, you have to book a full package thing with AAA and stay onsite to get the special fast pass deal. My AAA agent looked at the Disney airfare though and laughed at the price they were quoting. Needless to say, our package DOES NOT include air. Just room and tickets. Disney was quoting something close to $1000 a ticket, if I remember correctly. We found fares for under $300 each.

 

[Leofoenget]

I realize now my confusion. When we went in 2004 AAA regular normal tickets that you bought at the office did offer Multiple fastpass. I did not realize they changed things around to only give you EFP with a booked package. The snotty guy at AAA today made that fact very clear. I guess they changed things around but I did not get the mickey mouse memo

 

[KCSunshine60]

Hi - I just booked my package through AAA. I didn't include airfare because we're driving and because southwest usually beats the package airfare.

But, I found when comparing the price of hotel plus tickets through DLand travel vs AAA, AAA was always cheaper. So, it made sense to go with them and get the extra perks.

The package at a good neighbor hotel was around $300 cheaper than staying at the PPier. If the enhanced fast pass was the only deciding factor, I'd go cheap and save the extra. But, we really wanted the nicer pool and staying at the PPier.

The AAA package included all fees and taxes plus parking, etc. Their default quote also includes vacation insurance so if you don't want that, be sure to tell them to take it off. That will save around $50.

Have fun!
KC

 

[flipturngirl]

last time I went we did not go through AAA and we still got the enhanced fast pass. but that might have only been then.. hmn

 

[DA1212YL]

We have booked a trip through AAA and we have just bought tickets when Darryl used to be a CM at the disney flagship store in SF. (Boy the perks were great before the disney stores got sold to The Childrens Place)

we found that if it's your first time or you are making a short trip to DLR, then the EFP is great to have, but if you are going for a few days the regular fast pass is good enough if you plan well.

We didn't stay at a Disneyland hotel for more than 2 nights though as stated in a previous package. We thought it was relatively cheap since we stayed one night at a DL hotel and 2 nights at a neighbor hotel.

 

[LOLA2]

Can someone explain what EFP is, I still don't get it, sorry.

 

[my3kids]

The ehnanced fast pass allows a person to get a fast pass for each attraction at the same time. You can hold 2 for the same ride but you can go to all the machines and get a FP and hold on to them. You do not have to wait for the start time or 2 hours or whatever the rule is for the ordinary fp to get a second one. You can get another fp for the same ride until a certain time, but you can get them for all your favorites first thing then enjoy the day.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

When i questioned the AAA gal, she simply said she didnt think we were comparing apples to apples but never bothered getting back to me! We were emailing. I guess I got a little irritated. I think it was becasue she knew she over quoted me. The trips looked the exact same, even the flight times... except for those AAA perks: FP, pin, lanyard etc. What a pain in the foot this is. I wish I had unlimited funds and didnt have to shop around! Wouldnt that be fun?!

Did you just try running the stuff yourself online at aaa.com? That's what we did... AAA came out slightly less, but of course this would have been in May.