In 1999 Disney began testing a
new system that was intended to help reduce the waiting
time at some of their more popular attractions. This
system called FastPass was first introduced at the
Animal Kingdom®. Following its successful debut there
and with the sigh of relief from Disney guests that were
heard all the way to Disney corporate headquarters it
was expanded to all four major theme parks.
Disney’s FastPass is free and can utilized by anyone
How do I know which attraction has a FastPass option?
The theme park maps will high light those attractions
that offer the FastPass
Each attraction offering a FastPass option will have
signage that clearly lets you know that it is a FastPass
attraction
Refer to the list below as you begin to outline a
touring plan for each park
How does FastPass work?
Each FastPass attraction will have two displays of time
The first display of time will give guests the
approximate waiting time if you were to enter the
attraction right then.
The second display of time indicates the window of time
for a return visit if you were to get a FastPass right
then
If the wait is acceptable then go ahead and enjoy the
attraction. If the wait is longer than you feel is
reasonable then go ahead and get a FastPass for a return
appointment to enjoy the attraction later.
How do I get a FastPass?
Locate the FastPass machines for that attraction. With
only a few exceptions they are located very near the
entrance to the attraction.
Insert your park admission ticket into the FASTPASS
machine and receive a FASTPASS coupon with a time range
to return. Typical time range for a return visit is
about an hour.
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INSIDER TIP:
Disney Note: Each person will need a FastPass in
order to enter the attraction. The only
exception is for those guests under three years
of age that did not require a park admission. |
Have your FastPass coupon out and
ready to show the cast member manning the FastPass
return line. A cast member will collect your FastPass
from you prior to entering the attraction itself.
Is there anything else
I should know about FastPass?
You will not be able to request a specific time. The
time you are assigned and is printed on your FastPass
coupon is the time you will be admitted to the FastPass
line for that attraction.
Each FastPass coupon equals one admission to that
attraction. Your FastPass will be collected as you enter
the attraction.
Each FastPass machine is specific for the attraction
that it is in front of. In other words to get a FastPass
for Space Mountain you will need to go to Space Mountain
and get your FastPass coupon for Space Mountain from
that machine
The wait time after entering the FastPass line is
generally around five minutes
If an attraction breaks down during the time you were to
return you will be admitted to the FastPass line anytime
later on during the day once the attraction is back up
and running.
Your FastPass expires after the time printed on your
FastPass coupon. For example, if your coupon states a
return time of between 1:00pm and 2:00pm and you arrive
at 2:10pm you will not be admitted to the FastPass line.
Initially Disney’s FastPass system would not issue
guests multiple FastPass coupons. Each person using his
or her park admission ticket would only be issued one
FastPass for the time frame indicated on the FastPass
coupon.
You would be allowed to obtain a subsequent FastPass 5
to 10 minutes after the beginning time on the FastPass
coupon you are holding. For example, if currently hold a
FastPass for Space Mountain that has a return time of
between 1:00pm and 2:00pm at approximately 1:10pm you
can go to any FastPass machine and obtain another
FastPass.
In practice let’s say you obtained a FastPass for Splash
Mountain that had a return time of between 1:00pm and
2:00pm. You return to Splash Mountain at 1:15pm enjoyed
the ride and exit at 1:30pm. You could then walk over to
Big Thunder Mountain and the FastPass machine there
would issue you another FastPass.
During the summer of 2002 Disney made an upgrade to the
FastPass computer system. The computer system has been
upgraded to allow guests to be issued a second ticket
within 45 minutes of the first one depending on guest
demand. It is now possible for a guest to be issued two
Fast Pass Tickets within the space of an hour and attend
both rides within that timeframe. Apparently, processing
power prevented the previous system from keeping track
of what tickets had been already used.
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