What's Faster - Single Rider or FastPass?

[NewbieMouse]

There are some rides that I want to go on that DH has no interest in so he's going to stay back and watch the kids (I mentioned the switching off thing, and he just shook his head, "Please, just go..." ). I was just wondering what would tend to be faster - to get a fastpass or opt for single rider, when available?

 

[sonnyjane]

In MY experience (and I go alone about once a month), single rider lines have been much faster (basically just a walk on). There was one exception, which was the busiest week of Spring Break (Easter) this year, when many others were on to the SRL benefits lol (i.e. large groups were in the SRL because it was so crowded and they didn't mind if they sat separately). If you're just going at normal times, I'd highly suggest doing SRL's when available! I always feel like a VIP when I get to cut to the front like that

 

[bumbershoot]

I say, Single Rider, because you just go when you want to go. No waiting around for the FP time.

That said, if you don't have any other needs for a FP, I'd get that too, because hey, maybe you'll want to ride again later.

 

[specialks]

Correct me if I am wrong but don't many rides queue the FP and SR into the same line? So they would both be the same wait timewise you would just be able to skip having to time your FP return by going as a SR.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

For Indy SRL is for sure faster ~ the FP for Indy just skips the line outside the ride building, SRs walk up the exit. I bet it'd be the same for Splash.

 

[sonnyjane]

Correct me if I am wrong but don't many rides queue the FP and SR into the same line? So they would both be the same wait timewise you would just be able to skip having to time your FP return by going as a SR.

Splash, Indy, GRR, and Screamin' send you in through the exit, not the FP line. Soarin' you go in the main entrance but they let you bypass the lines. I haven't done MM or Maliboomer as a SR b/c I don't like those rides.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

It depends....

My FIL and DD went through the FP line of GRR(with rider switch pass) and I wanted to ride again so did single rider....They were 2 boats ahead of me.

CA Screamin's SR line seems to move pretty quickly since they don't typically match 2 odd numbered groups together (ex. 3rd person from 2 groups wouldn't be sat together, but on GRR they would match 2 groups of 3 together in a raft)

 

[Belle Ella]

I've only ever done SRL for Indy, and boy is it faster than a FP! I can get in and out of Indy (the whole walk through the exit, elevator ride, and all) in as little as 8 minutes depending on how fast they hold you up in the projection room, or before getting on the ride. I love it. I'm going to give the SRL a try for a couple of other rides (possibly) the enxt time I go.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Which is faster can vary, but - the huge advantage of Single-Rider is that you don't have to plan aheadd by picking up your FP ticket earlier in the day. Also, you can have a FP for another attraction during that time frame.

- Dreams

 

[jacobsmommy]

So, here are my list of rides that we won't all be doing (either due to lack of height or queasiness). Do all of these rides have single rider? It sounds like single rider is quicker than fast pass.

Indy (dh and I both want to ride-I think ds might not be tall enough)
Matterhorn (all but dd will ride)
Splash (all but dd will ride in two shifts) should we FP and then single rider?
Space Mountain (probably just me)

California Screamin (just me)
Soarin (all but dd will ride)
Grizzly River Run (ds and either me or dh with him)
TOT -I might do this one by myself-but I'll probably skip it b/c I've heard it's not as good as WDW.

 

[Hound 109]

Screamin' is a great ride to Single Ride on....because:

- It's in the back of DCA....most will agree that going all the way back once to pick up the FP & then all the way back again to ride 2 hours later is counterproductive to effective touring.

- SRL is faster than the FP line.

- Once it takes off, it doesn't matter much who's sitting next to you.

- It's got the very cute Triton's Carousel next door for little ones & spare spouses to enjoy while you're "Screamin'".

 

[sonnyjane]

So, here are my list of rides that we won't all be doing (either due to lack of height or queasiness). Do all of these rides have single rider? It sounds like single rider is quicker than fast pass.

Indy (dh and I both want to ride-I think ds might not be tall enough)
Matterhorn (all but dd will ride)
Splash (all but dd will ride in two shifts) should we FP and then single rider?
Space Mountain (probably just me)

California Screamin (just me)
Soarin (all but dd will ride)
Grizzly River Run (ds and either me or dh with him)
TOT -I might do this one by myself-but I'll probably skip it b/c I've heard it's not as good as WDW.

Space, Matterhorn, and TOT do not have single riders. For Space and TOT, get a FP. Matterhorn doesn't have FP so you'll have to wait for that one.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

So, here are my list of rides that we won't all be doing (either due to lack of height or queasiness). Do all of these rides have single rider? It sounds like single rider is quicker than fast pass.

Indy (dh and I both want to ride-I think ds might not be tall enough)
Matterhorn (all but dd will ride)
Splash (all but dd will ride in two shifts) should we FP and then single rider?
Space Mountain (probably just me)

California Screamin (just me)
Soarin (all but dd will ride)
Grizzly River Run (ds and either me or dh with him)
TOT -I might do this one by myself-but I'll probably skip it b/c I've heard it's not as good as WDW.

Looks like you could definitely benefit from using child swap in some of these cases, MH, Splash, GRR. I believe you can also combine child swap and fastpass for those rides that have it.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Thank you so much for your responses. I think I will venture out one evening and the wimps - er, I mean, the rest of the the family - will have a restful night at the hotel starting around 5pm (DH and I have been to WDW and DL Paris before the kids were born, but only for one day at his insistence. He gets disneyed-out very quickly This time he's doing multiple days for the kids, but I fear this trip may kill him.) I was thinking of trying to get 4 fastpasses with our 4 park tickets (I read on that major fastpass thread that they don't check whose ticket it's associated with) and perhaps doing single riders for the others that are available. Sounds like that may work - most of the ones I'm interested in are the ones that have been mentioned - Indy, Maliboomer, Mulholland Madness, TOT, Space, BTMRR, California Screamin, Grizzly). I think I'll have to start in PP, as that will close early for WOC (it'll be mid-June). TOT's pastpass will be off, and there's no single rider, so I guess that'll be the wild card.

But I've got to get those rides in!

 

[skiingfast]

Are you sure you should be married to a person who doesn't care and will skip the rides?

 

[tink929]

I agree that most of the time SR is much faster. We usually will get a fastpass to a ride, then each take a turn (or 3) in the SR line, saving the fastpass for later if we want.

This year, DD5 swears she'll ride some of the biggies with us, so we may have to wait in REAL lines for Splash and maybe Indy. Well, fastpass lines.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Are you sure you should be married to a person who doesn't care and will skip the rides?

Every marriage has its compromises, I guess. At least he's coming!

I think we may do a few of these with the kids (Space, BTMRR, Grizzly, maybe Mulholland Madness - we'll see how they react when we get there). But some of the other ones the kids wouldn't even be allowed on, so I think he'd rather entertain them at the pool than have them suffer through waiting for us to switch off. They'll be exhausted and whiny by then anyway.

 

[mcnerthney]

Ridemax doesn't offer Indy in a Single Rider option like it does for Splash Mountain. I wonder why?

 

[skiingfast]

Every marriage has its compromises, I guess. At least he's coming!

I think we may do a few of these with the kids (Space, BTMRR, Grizzly, maybe Mulholland Madness - we'll see how they react when we get there). But some of the other ones the kids wouldn't even be allowed on, so I think he'd rather entertain them at the pool than have them suffer through waiting for us to switch off. They'll be exhausted and whiny by then anyway.

Yes, and if you ride alone at least you have a sitter along, that's quite a luxury.

Also keep in mind that if you have the option of SR and FP. If the SR goes through the exit this may save time. Some ride the FP line is mostly paralel to the regular que while the exit is really short.

Also for kids GRR is pretty good. It's outside and a little bumpy but kind of slow. The drop is the only scary part and resolves quickly.

MM more intense but it's outside too.

Space can be hard if they don't like the dark.

BTRR is alright, the worst parts is the delay on the drops, they know it's about to get fast.

If you ride with them and are enthusiastic it will help them too. Offer to hold their hand if they are worried (not scared) and encourage them to laugh say wee and put thier hands up.

 

[honugirl]

Today SR was NOT faster on Soarin. I would have done better with the FP. I ended up having to wait for 2 cycles of the ride and got on the 3rd, but the FP people basically got on immediately. YMMV though.