What exactly is FASTPASS?

[cokegal19]

I hear everyone talking about this, what exactly is it? How does it work?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Straight from allearsnet.com:

What is FASTPASS??

FASTPASS is Disney's innovative system to help reduce long waits at popular attractions. It was introduced in 1999 and has been very successful.

Can Anyone Take Advantage of FASTPASS?

Absolutely! Any park guest can use FASTPASS. You do NOT have to have any special tickets or be staying at a Disney resort hotel. FASTPASS is available to EVERYONE.



How Much Does FASTPASS Cost?

FASTPASS is included in your admission to the park. There is NO extra charge to use the system.


How does it Work?
When you approach a FASTPASS Attraction you will see 2 clocks. The first one will tell you how long the normal wait time is, if you got in line right then. The other clock tells you what time you should return if you got a FASTPASS ticket now.
Go to the FASTPASS ticket machine and insert your admission ticket. EACH PERSON NEEDS A FASTPASS TICKET! Out comes your FASTPASS indicating what time frame you may return to the attraction. You are given a time frame, or "window," and may return during that period. Note that for some attractions, like Honey I Shrunk the Audience (Epcot) and the Little Mermaid Show (Disney MGM-Studios), there is only a 10-15 minute window.

Once your FASTPASS time has arrived, return to the attraction and get in the line for FASTPASS holders! Be sure to have your ticket out and ready to show the Cast Member. Further along in the waiting area, a Cast Member will actually take your FASTPASS ticket.

Even if you only want to see the Pre-Show and have no intentions of getting on the ride/attraction -- if you want to go with your party through the FASTPASS line you WILL need a FASTPASS!

Persons doing the Child Swap -- Each of you and your child NEEDS a FASTPASS ticket! EXCEPTION: If you child is under 3 and was admitted to the park for free, you do not need a FASTPASS ticket for them.

 

[XStAnt]

The advantage of FP is that it essentailly lets you "wait" in two lines at once: the FP attraction and whatever ride you go on while waiting for your FP return time.

Your FP will tell you when you can get your next FP. Usually it is 5 minutes after your return window begins or about 2 hours after you got the FP, whichever comes first. However, the time can vary depending on crowd levels and the FP attraction. It could be less than 45 minutes so check your ticket.

Get a second FP ticket as soon as you can--before using your first FP. This starts the clock running on your second FP while you are going on the ride for the first FP. It is a great way to maximize it's use. It may take some criss-crossing of the park to get the FPs you want. However, only one person in your party needs to get the FPs. He/She just has to collect everyone's admission ticket, take them to the FP machine and insert each ticket into the machine. The rest of the group can do soemthing else like: take a bathroom break, shop, eat, rest, wait in line for another attraction.

Don't make the classic FP mistake. Many people see the wait in the standby line is 45 minutes but the FP return time is 2 hours away. They assume they are better off waiting in the standby line because they will get on the ride sooner. While this is true, they do not understand the concept of FP. Instead of waiting in the standby ;ine, you can be going on other attractions. During that 45 minutes they are waitning in line, a FP person could go on one or two other non-FP attractions or get some lunch, shop, etc. It allows you to do other things instead of waiting in line.

Hope this helps.

 

[shafke]

Don't forget... show up at the attraction 5 minutes before your return time and jam up at the ride entrance so that other people with fast pass cannot get through.