What time do FastPass machines start dispensing tickets?

[26555]

Does if vary by ride or by early entry day? If I'm there before park opening at a character breakfast I might consider sending a "runner" out while we finish up our meal and pay. I remember getting a fastpass for pooh with return time 10 but I can't remember if the machines were open at 9am or not. Thanks.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I too am wondering just how to use the FastPasses... We will be visiting the Magic Kingdom the first week in May. There may be moderate attendance that week??? (Between Spring-break and Schools letting out in late May/early June)

What should our game plan be?? Like, for Splash Mountain or Mickey's Philharmagic for example. I was not really planning on running for these two rides first thing...

Anyone know if we should plan on hitting these popular rides right away???

Thanks!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Another question,

Do the FastPass machines display the time they are currently assigning??? In other words, do you know when you walk up what time it is telling you to return? Or do you just stick your ticket in and then find out?

Thanks again!

 

[karemore]

The machine does tell you the return time before you get your ticket.

In April after easter, it was always for an hour later. Sometimes that was too soon and we wished the return window started later.

We always got to the park before it opened, grabbed a Fastpass for a major attraction, and rode the other major attractions in that area, grabbed another fastpass and then rode our fastpass ride.

Or, we'd ride the FP ride and then grab another FP when we got off....it all depends on where you are and where you are headed.

They can be really spread out, and it's a lot of running.

It saved us hours of waiting in line, and we were able to ride all our favorites twice using FP.

Karen

 

[tartangirl]

The Fastpass machines are up and running at park opening. The first times they distribute are about 10:30.

At Animal Kingdom we send a runner to get fastpasses for Kiliminjaro Safari while the rest of us go to Dinoland while it's quiet. Then back to the Safari for 10:30.

I think the times are usually displayed although I keep forgetting to check. They're not always by the machines either, I have vague recollections that the times being distributed for Buzz are near the fastpass return whereas the machines are round the corner.

 

[stinkerbelle]

We have been during 'slower' times of the year (September/January) and found that sometimes, the FP machines are NEVER open.

If a ride has a wait longer then 25/30 minutes, THEN the FP machines will start spitting out tickets.

in September, the HM was ALWAYS walk on for us...all week the FP machines were covered up.

 

[swilphil]

Last month the fp machines seemed to open when the ride opened. We saw some fp machines shut down during EMH if the ride was closed. The Pooh FP machine should open at 9 a.m. if that's when the ride opens.

Wishing on a Star--Splash Mountain is a good ride to get a FP for. Mickey's Phil is questionable. I wouldn't do the show first thing, but later on when you need a break. Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear are also other good FP rides, and sometimes Haunted Mansion.

 

[26555]

That's a bummer about offseason! Its BECAUSE we can't stand even a 25-30 minute wait that we go during offseason. I'd like to think they'd still run fastpass at all times and the offseason fastpass people just get a 5 minute wait in line. I guess I'm just use to IOA/US where almost every ride had an express opportunity and it ran all the time. I would often see a 10-15 minute wait but take the extra 60 seconds to hit the fastpass machine which would give a return time for right then, then we'd walk on the ride with NO wait at all. It was offseason and early but it was nice.

 

[tartangirl]

Even during July we were skipping queues at universal by using Universal Express and getting times immediately.

I dont think you'll get that at Disney - I've never had a fastpass within an hour of the current time

 

[26555]

Originally posted by tartangirl
Even during July we were skipping queues at universal by using Universal Express and getting times immediately.

I dont think you'll get that at Disney - I've never had a fastpass within an hour of the current time

Yeah, I don't expect that but I'd sure like to get an express pass in my pocket and hit some non-fastpass rides while we wait for the time. I just don't like the idea of them not being in use at all.

 

[B'rer Karen]

Originally posted by 26555
Yeah, I don't expect that but I'd sure like to get an express pass in my pocket and hit some non-fastpass rides while we wait for the time. I just don't like the idea of them not being in use at all.

You won't have to worry about that. I tend to go in September which is one of the lowest times of the year to go and FP is running. Some specific rides may not have it up and running if it really isn't necessary, but the mountains, Mission Space, Test Track, KS, RnR have always had the machines open when I've been there.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks everyone.

Now I am getting a feel for using the fast-passes. I had thought about planning to send DH for Fastpasses for Buzz Lightyear so we can just walk onto that one with DS. Then, a little later in the day, make sure we can get a FastPass for Splash Mountain for the afternoon, sometime after the Parade... I know the lines will be long for that one at that time.

We will only have ONE day for MK, so I have to be the O/C planner on this one!

 

[PandyPaws]

We have our FP machines open at Kilimanjaro Safari at park opening....the first return time is usually about 25-30 minutes after we open

 

[Aristomommy]

If we get a FP for a ride and decide to ride it sooner if the lines are not long, is there a way to void the FP by giving it to a CM? That way we don't have to wait until that FP expires to get into a different FP station. I hope my question makes sense. Our last visit was a week after 9/11 and the park was empty so we did not use FP at all.

Jen

 

[B'rer Karen]

To my knowledge there isn't anyway to void a FP. You don't have to use it, but you still won't be able to get another one any earlier. In this case I would ride once standby and then ride again with the FP.

 

[8 Ears]

My oldest DS and DH want to go on RRC and TOT for a couple of examples that younger DS and myself will not go on.

My question is, can I get a FP for DH and can DS get a FP for his brother for either the ride they are currently on or anohter one while they ride #1? Do I make sense??

Thanks a bunch for any insight.....

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are not going on a ride you may pull a fast pass for someone else in your family. But this may force you to wait awhile (until the next-fetch time printed) before getting a fast pass for a different ride you do want to go on.

The system does not record the actual time you ride, or whether you chickened out of the ride. All the CM's at the fast pass entrance do is examine and collect the fast passes. So there is no mechanism to void a fast pass to allow you to pull another fast pass sooner.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm