When NOT to fastpass an attraction?

[bangzoom6877]

When is it better not to fastpass an attraction? How do I know how long a wait is for a ride without the fastpass? Do they post wait times at the queue for a ride? Are wait times also posted anywhere else in the parks?

-Bonnie

 

[bettyann29]

for myself its just been trial and error.. I will generally get a FP for wait times longer than 20 minutes..

Fastpass is generally avl for the more popular rides..

But yes there is wait times listed by the rides.. and I know at Epcot there is a big sign that has the more popular rides listed and wait times.. I dont remember if the other parks have this option or not though..

 

[familyfirsttimer]

When is it better not to fastpass an attraction? How do I know how long a wait is for a ride without the fastpass? Do they post wait times at the queue for a ride? Are wait times also posted anywhere else in the parks?

-Bonnie

The standy-by line will tell you what the wait is and then next to it the FP will tell you the time you can return with the FP. So it really depends on your schedule. If the wait seems short enough to not have to worry about coming back at the FP time, the just wait in the standy by.

For some of the attractions there is a board in the center of the park with wait time but I am only remembering this in Epcot. I'm sure someone else can answer that piece for you...

HTH

 

[bangzoom6877]

for myself its just been trial and error.. I will generally get a FP for wait times longer than 20 minutes.. QUOTE]


Wow, are there really attractions with waits LESS than 20 minutes? If so, which ones tend to be short like this? I anticipated waiting at least 30 minutes per attraction, in July. I figured that fastpass would be more for something with like a 2 hour wait (no way I would ever wait this long without doing something else for any ride!). Hmm...maybe we can do a little more than I figured we could. That would be nice!

-Bonnie

 

[tchrrx]

for myself its just been trial and error.. I will generally get a FP for wait times longer than 20 minutes.. QUOTE]


Wow, are there really attractions with waits LESS than 20 minutes? If so, which ones tend to be short like this? I anticipated waiting at least 30 minutes per attraction, in July. I figured that fastpass would be more for something with like a 2 hour wait (no way I would ever wait this long without doing something else for any ride!). Hmm...maybe we can do a little more than I figured we could. That would be nice!

-Bonnie

Bonnie- Just keep on planning. We never waited more than 30 min on any ride in June. It's possible, it just takes a plan of attack.

 

[scrappinstevie]

The wait times board at Animal Kingdom is on your right as you walk across the bridge toward the tree of life from the main entrance....there is also a times list in Africa outside the Kilamanjaro Safari ride by the fruit stand.

At Magic Kingdom it is on the left at the end of Main Street USA...these boards are manned with Cast Members in case you have questions.

I don't remember where the board at Hollywood Studios is-can't remember seeing one there.

 

[Kcross3625]

The times boards at DHS is at the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Sunset. You can't miss it.

 

[peppermintcream]

I'm sure there is a board in Epcot as you head towards the big fountain and again in the general direction of Mission Space.

 

[centurythree]

Ok, in all the times I've been to MK, DHS, and AK I've never seen wait time signboards. When were they added?

 

[DebbieB]

Ok, in all the times I've been to MK, DHS, and AK I've never seen wait time signboards. When were they added?

I've been going since 1994 and have always seen them.

MK - end of Main Street near Crystal Palace
DHS - corner of Hollywood & Sunset
AK - at the end of the bridge by the big merchandise shops
Epcot - near the pin station, near MS and near Soarin.

 

[centurythree]

I'm sure there is a board in Epcot as you head towards the big fountain and again in the general direction of Mission Space.

Now that one even I didn't miss.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Ok, in all the times I've been to MK, DHS, and AK I've never seen wait time signboards. When were they added?

Don't know when they started but they've been there for many years as PP said.
However, unlike the electronic one at Epcot which is so huge you can't help but notice it, the other ones are manned by CM's writing on what I believe is a chalkboard and don't stand out as much when you are so busy looking at everything that is goin on around you. The DHS one I always find fine, but even after seeing it a bunch of times, I still sometimes miss the MK one. I actually asked on my last trip if it was gone, turns out it was just blocked by a big crowd of people. I've never actually looked for the AK one because for some reason we seem to be able to time out that park fine without it.

 

[mickeyfan0805]

When considering fastpass, keep in mind a few things.

1) Getting a fastpass at any ride will effect how soon you can get one on another. You don't want to fastpass on a 30 minute wait if there is a ride that's important to you that's got a 2 hour wait.

2) Some fastpasses actually run out early in the day (Peter Pan is notorious for this). If you want to ride it and don't either ride it or get a fastpass early, the wait can be excrutiatingly long.

3) The walk matters! If you see a 45 minute wait somewhere, and the fastpass is valid 2 hours later, consider that you could be at the opposite side of the park during that window and would lose your time savings to the need to trek all the way back to get to the other side. You can quickly end up spending the day criss-crossing the parks for fastpasses and not gaining any time advantage.

This is where TGM and others come in handy, if you're doing the commando thing, a plan really helps. In the end, just have fun!

 

[NorweJenNY]

The walk matters! If you see a 45 minute wait somewhere, and the fastpass is valid 2 hours later, consider that you could be at the opposite side of the park during that window and would lose your time savings to the need to trek all the way back to get to the other side. You can quickly end up spending the day criss-crossing the parks for fastpasses and not gaining any time advantage.
QUOTE]

Yeah, basically, if you have an attraction that you really want to do that has a FP, make sure you go there first. Check out the wait time and if there's a long wait, check the FP return time and see if there's enough things to do nearby that are worth waiting for the FP. Then you've just gotta be the judge. Sometimes a FP wait would leave just enough time for a bathroom break and a snack... and bathrooms and snacks can be found all over the parks!

I'm also more likely to grab FPs when we have little ones along with. A 4yo doesn't want to wait in line for 45 minutes for a ride that lasts 5 minutes or less! If it were just dh and I, a 45 minute wait may not be as big of a deal. With kids, you've gotta remember their schedules and their tired little feet. It's more about them than us. (I can't stand people that basically drag their kids along instead of creating an experience that the kids will really enjoy along with the family.)

 

[amberandolly]

we "strategically" used fast passes - in AK we saw the lines for the safari were at 40 mins, so we grabbed fp's and went to do tough to be a bug, by the time we came out, it was exactly time for the safari.
In Epcot, we got passes for TT and then rode universe of energy, we then walked straight onto TT with no wait at all. Mission space was maybe 10 mins wait, as was Soarin.
I wouldn't cross a park to use a fp, if you plan things and do one area at a time, it works really well.
The kids got passes for RNR for a 2nd ride and used them as we were leaving - there are seats by the rest rooms in the shade near the exit from rnr shop - a good spot to wait.

 

[labdogs42]

If I was going on a trip during a busy time, I would rely on my Unofficial Guide touring plans for sure. You might want to pick up a copy of the book.

Don't forget the single rider lines, too. I love those lines for quick rides on Test Track and Everest!

 

[Autoeng]

Please confirm that you can't use a FP early but you can use it later than the time posted. Therefore, why rush back across a park to use one?

 

[C-CMom]

The walk matters! If you see a 45 minute wait somewhere, and the fastpass is valid 2 hours later, consider that you could be at the opposite side of the park during that window and would lose your time savings to the need to trek all the way back to get to the other side. You can quickly end up spending the day criss-crossing the parks for fastpasses and not gaining any time advantage.

To save walking for the kids, I often go fetch the FP across the park for the entire family. I like to keep busy anyway, so I am happy doing this little service, and the kids maintain stamina to keep us all happy longer. Works out great. Drop a few pounds with all of that exercise, too....

Please confirm that you can't use a FP early but you can use it later than the time posted. Therefore, why rush back across a park to use one?

Yes, it is often reported that you can use the FP later. That would be at the discretion of the CM, and there would be no guarantee. However, the system "works" best when everyone comes during or at least near the time scheduled. At least that is how it was reportedly designed to work...

 

[SmallWorld71]

I don't completely agree with the don't cross a park to use a FP thing. While I certainly wouldn't recommend going back and forth repeatedly, it's not always as bad as it may seem. At MK last year we walked onto Splash with no wait 1st thing in the morning, but BTMRR was down. So, like many others we grabbed FP's. A couple hours later we were in Toontown and a nice CM checked for me and found that it was up and running again so we hopped on the railroad.
Also, one year we got FP's for the safari as the stand by was 1 1/2 hrs. In that time we were able to see the Pocahantas show, meet numerous characters and have lunch instead of standing in line. Well worth the extra walking IMO.
Sure you don't want to wear yourself down. But, standing in long lines is much more stressful than some extra walking.

 

[annayin]

If it's not a very popular attraction than that's the only time I can think of when a fastpass doesn't help. The rides are quite short compared to the waits, so might as well wait outside of the line.