what is the best FastPass Strategy?

[lersxst]

Is it best to go and get all the FastPasses when first going into the park, before anything else, or should we be grabbing them as we go along during the day?
Thanks for any suggestions provided.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

Is it best to go and get all the FastPasses when first going into the park, before anything else, or should we be grabbing them as we go along during the day?
Thanks for any suggestions provided.

You can't go get them all - you get one and then have to wait an hour or so before another is available and so on all day. The wait to get another is regularly an hour or two depending on the crowds, but can be shorter depending on the crowd.

 

[mattsdragon]

Different strategies exist for different parks. Your best bet is to just go to the park and do what you want to do re: fastpasses.

 

[lersxst]

Thanks for the tips. It helps to know that there is no sense in trying to rush for all the passes first thing in the morning.

 

[btuftee]

A good tip is to rush for the big-ticket attraction at park opening, ride it, then get a FP for it. While you wait for that FP to come due, ride another big ticket, then come back when your FP is ready. That way, you'll have done three rides on two of the park's big attractions, and all within the first hour (or less even!).

A popular strategty at the MK is to do this with Splash and Big Thunder mountains, or with Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. At Epcot, this works for Soarin' and Test Track (though it's a bit of walking!). At MGM, it's best on Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. At Ak, you'd do this for EE and Kilimanjaro Safaris (or Kali River Rapids).

Later in the day, you still use fastpasses, but not in the same fashion. Because return times are getting longer, you might FP Big Thunder, and then do some of the low-key attractions in the area (Tom Sawyer Island, Bear Jamboree, etc), because the line for Splash Mtn is 60 minutes! In the mornings, FPs let you jam in an extra ride or two while you're dashing around to beat the crush. In the afternoons, FPs let you take in the smaller attractions while your FP 'waits' in line a couple hours for you.

 

[skier_pete]

My understanding is that on each FASTPASS ticket, they print the time that you are eligible to pick up your next FP. It is usually either after the start of that current FP, or if the FP is for later in the day , then you would be eligible to get another one about two hours later. (Say you get a 5 PM FP for soarin at noon, you can pick up another one at about 2 PM.)

My one piece of advice. USE the FP system. The last two times we went, we ran into people that said "Oh, that's too much of a pain, I have to go back to the ride twice?" and never used it. I waved at them while they waited in line for 2 hours at Splash Mountain. You don't need to get your first one as the first thing you do at the park, assuming you are there at the rope drop, but I would recommend by the end of the first hour having one in hand.

SkierPete

 

[mickeyluv'r]

It also depends a little on the crowds. If you are there at a peak crowd time, a new ride like EE will get longer fastpass times early in the day.

If gettig on lots of rides is important, you might want to take advantage of single rider lines on the rides that have them (like Test Track). You won't ride with your friends, but unless you are considering buying the pics, who cares? I've never understood people who get hung up on riding together, to the point that they are willing to wait twice as long for a ride.

Peter Pan always has long lines. Soarin' also gets ong lines quickly, and even the fast pass line is quite slow.

Youcan't always trust the posted wait times. We found this to be especially true of the boards at the park entrances in the last year. Very disappointing. Sometimes you can guess by eye (PeterPan), others by gut - Test Track early in the am might not be as long as they say.

 

[di$neynutz]

Get them early and often. Fastpass is great for helping you get to do all the rides.

 

[CindyAnn]

Some fastpass tips I would share are:

1. Get fastpasses for something "big" as soon as you enter the park (unless that involves an insane amount of extra walking)
2. Use a fastpass runner (who feels energetic or isn't riding a particular attraction) to get the next set of fastpasses
3. Always get a fastpass for all members of your party, so somebody can get an extra ride if they so desire (the exception is if your party wants to split up and ride two different fastpass attractions)
4. Always check the time you're eligible for your next fastpass - sometimes it's sooner than you expect
5. To save a bit of time, try to get the fastpasses for the next attraction before you actually ride the original fastpass attraction (again, not if it drives you crazy or involves criss-crossing the park 7 times)
6. Don't show up early for your fastpass return time - the CMs won't let you in, you waste time, and you crowd up the fastpass return area

For example, at MK at rope drop we will:

1. get a fastpass for Splash
2. ride Splash
2. ride Big Thunder
4. get a fastpass for Jungle Cruise
5. ride Splash with fastpass
6. ride Pirates
7. ride a few other things nearby
8. get a fastpass for Haunted Mansion
9. ride Jungle Cruise with fastpass
etc., etc.

Depending upon the actual fastpass return times and standby wait times, we adjust our plan on the fly.

Fast pass is great! Have fun!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

My simple first rule is "Always have a fastpass".

Sometimes we start with the majors (ie the MK mountains) and sometimes we start with Fantasyland. Peter Pan ride fastpasses seem to go more quickly than some other dark rides, and lines build quicker there too.

 

[Frantasmic]

For the next year, as long as the current promotion is in effect, the best "fastpass" strategy is to enter the park happy, smiling, and seemingly unsuspecting. Hopefully, you will get a golden pass for that day!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

You won't be able to get all your fastpasses at once. You can get one for a big attraction (only use it if the line is long and it can save you more than 30 minutes) and then do other things in the area and just return when the fp says you can to ride. Keep in mind: Fastpasses run out later on in the day and the return window gets longer the later you pick up the fp. Also make sure everyone who wants to ride has their own fastpass. Only kids under 3 won't need one. There are 3 ways to get a 2nd fastpass: 1. After the time it says on your fp ticket, 2. once the return window opens or 3. 2 hours after you received your first one, you can get another. Always check the return time before getting your fp to make sure the return time doesn't interfere with anything else (like a dinner ADR). Hope this helps.

 

[lersxst]

Thanks for all the responses. I have a couple of questions from CindyAnn's:

2. Use a fastpass runner (who feels energetic or isn't riding a particular attraction) to get the next set of fastpasses

Does this mean that one person can get fastpasses for his/her whole party without all having to be present? Isn't this controlled by some type of bracelet that forces each person to be present when getting the fastpass?

4. Always check the time you're eligible for your next fastpass - sometimes it's sooner than you expect

How can you check the time you are elegible for the next fastpass?

thanks.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

One person can get Fastpasses for the whole group, all that is needed is the person's tickets. My DH takes all of our tickets as soon as we enter the park and then he is off to get our first Fastpass while we go get in line. Then he comes and joins us.

the Fastpass that you are currently holding has a time printed on the bottom that shows when you are eligible to get another.

Does anyone have a picture of a Fastpass to post?????

 

[writersblock42]

Yeah, one strategy is to ride the big attraction first, then get fast pass for second biggest attraction, then while waiting for that another ride. Generally you have about one hour before the lines get long. In this hour you can pretty much get on anything. So ride three rides without fast pass and as you pass other rides grab fast passes. Fast passes are generally good for a range of time. You don't have to be there the minute it says.

 

[CindyAnn]

Sorry, Lersxst - My answer would be exactly what J.C.7ALI'SMOM said. It's generally safer, in any case, for one person to hold all the park passes. In our family, the other adult holds a photocopy of the park passes, so that they're easily replaced if they're dropped or left in a fastpass machine. Another tip I should have mentioned is that you need to make sure that you walk away with e.g. 4 park passes and 4 fastpasses - it's easy to leave the last one in the machine if you're in a hurry.

Posting a picture of a fastpass would be great, but unfortunately, I don't have one. The information on it (as best as I can remember) is shown below, where I showed an example for Splash Mountain.

Most of the time you will be given a window of an hour to return, as shown below. However, for shows such as Little Mermaid or Indiana Jones you are usually only given a 10 minute window to return for a specific show.

_________________________________________________

Ride: Splash Mountain

Valid for Entry Between: 11:25 a.m. and 12:25 p.m.

Another Fastpass will be available: 11:30 a.m.

Current Date: Oct 5/2006 Current Time: 10:17 a.m.

_________________________________________________



Hope this helps!

 

[supersuperwendy]

I've had total strangers give me fastpasses they printed out and then couldn't use since they were going to leave the park!!!!!!

That's the best!!!!!!!!!! I know it's not a strategy, but it is cool!!!!!

 

[lersxst]

Thanks again for all the great tips-

Is there a list somewhere on disboards of the attractions that offer FastPasses?

thanks.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

At MK: BTMRR, Jungle Cruise, Pooh, Peter Pan, Stich's GE, HM (sometimes), Space Mountain, splash M, Buzz

At Epcot: Test Track, Mission:SPACE, Living withthe Land, HISTA, Maelstrom, Soarin'

At MGM: Indiana Jones, StarTours, LMAE Stunt Show, RnR, ToT, VotLM

At AK: Kali RR, Primeval Whirl, EE, ITtbaB, DINOSAUR, Kilimanjaro S

If you look up each attraction on the Disney web page it lists which ones have FP.

 

[CindyAnn]

Here's the link on the DIS. The static (i.e. non-boards) section of the DIS also has great info!

Cheers,