Will Fast Pass Really help next week?

[westjones]

We are use to going to WDW in September. We don't use fast passes then because the lines really aren't that bad (especially on EMH days).

We are going next week for the first time during the holidays. Our daughters (of course) want to rides all of their favorite rides (personally, I would like to just go and enjoy the decorations and shows and skip the rides).

Will the fast passes really help next week?


I know we are going to have long waits, but if we have fast passes what can we expect in terms of wait times? They really want to do Mission Space and Test Track at Epcot and Buzz Lightyear at MK.

Thanks!
DJ

 

[TowerBellhop]

My thoughts on the matter would be this (er... these? ). Find out what they *really* want to do. If those attractions have Fast Pass access, go get a Fast Pass. That way, you *know* that you're going on those attractions and you know when. Then, hit some other stuff, or stand in the stand-by lines for the attractions you have a Fast Pass for, and get "2 for 1" rides. Either way, I would look at the Fast Pass not as a tool to "make the line shorter" but as a tool to "guarantee your turn". Does that make sense?

Take care,
Jay

 

[Jestocost]

There are really so many variable that it's impossible to make a blanket statement. They can be very efficient, but when the return time is half a day away I tend not to use them. Here are a few observations to consider when evaluating whether to go FastPass or standby:

On our last trip over Thanksgiving, we saw FastPass return times anywhere from 1.5 hours to 8 hours after the FastPass distribution times. Test Track, in fact, was completely out of FastPasses for the day by 11:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving day.

The posted "Standby" times are rarely accurate, but you never know when the real times are shorter or longer than posted! We did standby at TT when the posted times were 90 minutes and 60 minutes, and had actual waits of 60 minutes and 20 minutes, respctively. At SM, on the other hand, standby time was posted at 60 minutes and we waited closer to 90 minutes. Guess which scenario left us feeling better?

If posted standby times are long for two or more rides we absolutely have to do, we'll get a FastPass for one (usually the one with the closest return time, unless we have something else that will prevent us from getting back soon enough) and do standby for the other. If you're there early, you also can get a FastPass for the same ride you're doing standby on and many times go twice in a relatively short period of time.

At Epcot, they're doing "Surprise FastPasses" at Mission: Space (and maybe other attractions, but I'm not sure) where you get a FastPass for another attraction in addition to MS. We got our MS FastPasses and another FastPass for Honey I Shrunk the Audience with a return time before our MS return time. I have heard reports of people actually getting "Surprise" FastPasses for MS at MS.

Based on your attraction preferences, I'd definitely look into FastPasses for either MS or TT at Epcot. My experience with BL at MK is that the wait is usually OK, but the FastPass return times also are fairly soon after distribution. You'd have to make that call when you're there.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck!

 

[swilphil]

I would say during the holidays that Fast Pass is the ONLY thing that will help. You will definitely have to prioritize what you attractions you want most and evaluate the fast pass waits to see which ride will work best for you. You may even have to leave the park, and return later to use your fast pass. Also be prepared to use fast pass for some must see shows. If your group is large enough, have 1/2 get fast passes for one ride and 1/2 for another. Then decide who gets to go on what. If some adults don't care about the rides, let the kids use both fast passes.

 

[westjones]

Thanks! I guess I will just have to see what the wait times look like. Going during a 'peak' time is a new experience for us. I will have everyone pick 2 things they want to do while we are there and work for there.

Thanks again for the advice.

DJ