Quick Schooling on Fast pass

Hi everyone. As the title says I need a quick schooling on Disney's fast pass(FP) system. I have not been since it began.

Walt Disney World

1 If I arrive at Space Mountain at 11:00 am and the line is 1 hour long what is the likely time the fast pass will have-12:00 pm, 1:00 pm 6:30 pm ect.? Also has anyone gotten a FP AND waited the hour for the ride and then been able to get right back on?

2 I am going with some non riders. If I use my own ticket for a FP and use theirs for another will I likely be able to get 2 rides in a realatively close time together?

3 Can you have more than FP at a time on the same ticket?

4 How much of the theming in the que is generally missed using FP?

The above questions also apply to the Universal parks

Thanks for the help and if anyone thinks of any other information I could use feel free to post it

FastPass is a breeze to figure out, so don't fret too much about it. Given the limited supply, the earlier you get the FP the closer to the actual riding time you'll be. For instance, at 9am the Space Mountain FPs would be for 10am, though by 11am it may already be 2pm or so.

And, sure, if you're going with non-riders who may not want to FP on their own you can use their tickets for extra FPs. If you pull them all at the same time they will be for the same one hour block so you can go on back-to-back (lines vary, but Space Mountain FPs tend to be on the longer side, like 10-15 minutes).

Your FP ticket will tell you the time that you can pull the next one. It's usually when the next one is valid (though sometimes its earlier if the return time is 3-5 hours out).

As far as themed queues, you really won't be missing much at Disney. The lines are either side-by-side (like Space Mountain or Thunder Mountain or Splash Mountain) or the merge with the standy line takes place just when the theming starts (Haunted Mansion).

As for Universal, I had read that they were doing away with the free version of Universal Express. They do sell booklets (between $15 to $35 a day per person) with front-of-the-line passes for all of the rides.

I've used Fastpass many, many, many times and here are my hints:

1] Not all rides -- and parks! -- are interconnected to the FastPass system. If a ride offers FP try and get a ticket. The worst that can happen is that you won't get one but you will not be penalized.

2] Only a limited number of passes are available each hour. Passes will continue to be passed out until an entire day's worth is gone. It is common on popular rides to find that there are no passes left by midday or early afternoon. Don't assume that if you decide to get a pass later that one will be available.

3] As Paris said, it will indicate at the very bottom of your pass when the next is available to you...use that to your advantage.

4] If you have other park annual passes or credit-card sized items in your wallet with a bar code in the same spot as your Disney passport try inserting them if an attendent is not around. I've received a fass pass using my Knotts pass, my SF pass, grocery club cards, my drivers license. If doesn't always work and many times an attendant is near but if you can try it, do so.

5] The return time frame [i.e. 1:45-2:45] is a suggested return time frame. What most people do not reazlie is that you can get in line through park closing so long as it is AFTER the beginning of the time period [in the example above your pass would be accepted by the attendent from 1:45 until park close].

Because of this what I typically do is spend the first few hours collecting fastpasses and enjoying rides that are not on the fastpass system. If I have a park-hopper pass I do this in BOTH parks. Then I spend the last half of the day using all the fast passes I collected.

Let me address your questions:

1 If I arrive at Space Mountain at 11:00 am and the line is 1 hour long what is the likely time the fast pass will have-12:00 pm, 1:00 pm 6:30 pm ect.?

That depends on how many people have acquired one by the time you reach the ride. As an example: if the park is open 10 hours and 50 FP are available per hour you'll be out of luck if 5,000 people have acquired passes by the time you get there. Again, if a ride offers FP try to get one. You can always wait in the stand-by line and use your FP later in the day.

Also has anyone gotten a FP AND waited the hour for the ride and then been able to get right back on?

While it may have happened on days with very light crowds it is typically park policy to get one ride per time you wait in line. It's doubtful you can wait in the stand-by line, ride, then flash your FP and expect to re-ride ;)

2 I am going with some non riders. If I use my own ticket for a FP and use theirs for another will I likely be able to get 2 rides in a realatively close time together?

Yes, but you will have to exit the ride and reenter the queue. A better way to use someone else's ticket would be to acquire a FP on rides that are interconnected to the computer.

3 Can you have more than FP at a time on the same ticket?

Answered.

4 How much of the theming in the que is generally missed using FP?

As Paris said the lines are usually side-by-side. You'll most likely see everything that you'd see if you were waiting in the slow-moving stand-by line...but you'll be walking by it at a faster pace. In that respect you might miss something you'd notice when the line is not moving.

Hope that helps! ;)

*** Edited 2/18/2006 6:25:27 PM UTC by Mamoosh***

Thanks very informative

That is pretty good Mamoosh, you are a Disney's Fastpass Master.
But remember that those of you who are visting Walt Disney World Resort, that NUMBER 3 DOES NOT WORK AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT. ^_^ WDWR Fastpass system is the original prototype system and it uses magnetic stripes and vaild park passes. My hint is to make friends with the Cast Members, they offen have extra Fastpasses, Child Swap passes and Ride Re-Entry passes.

Most but not all the Fastpass machines in all four parks are connected to one network.

Some Fastpass queues are a totally seperate from the Stand-by Queue, like at Expedition Everest.

Good luck and may the Magic be with you. ^_^

*** Edited 2/18/2006 7:35:56 AM UTC by SONiC Senshi***

As far as I know, DLR fastpass is now linked to the entry turnstiles, so #3 doesn't work there anymore either.

Oops...I looked at my post and realized I number my points poorly [there were three #3's!]. So I fixed that...and now it is point #4 that Brian and others claim does not work.

As Mooshadoodle said, the best unpublished thing to know about Fastpass is that the hour window is only a suggestion. If your time is 1:05-2:05, you can come back at 5:00 and they'll still let you through the queue.

Always, always, ALWAYS have a Fastpass in your pocket that you're waiting for the time to come up. If you don't, you're wasting some time. Also, if you have a FP ticket that says you can ride at 2:05, don't ride RIGHT at 2:05. Head to another attraction and get a Fastpass for that one at 2:06, THEN go ride the one you were waiting on. That way some of the time you have to wait for your next time will be waited while experiencing the previous attraction.

And ALWAYS check the "your next Fastpass is available at XX:YY" message. Never go without a Fastpass for something in your pocket. (Yes, that's a big tip.)

Nice summary of my two main points, Michael ;)

mOOSH [yes, I know his name is John]

Thanks guys. New question if the FP machines are connected to one network then can you get a pass for any ride at the park from any machine? ex:can you get a pass for Thunder Mountain at the Space Mountain kiosk? This would save walking time as you could be in one area and plan to be in the other after the pass time comes

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john13601 said:
if the FP machines are connected to one network then can you get a pass for any ride at the park from any machine?

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I wish. The machines only dispense Fassa Passas (The Japanese Term) for the attraction they are in front of. This means a LOT of walking unless you plan carefully... though I didn't know Moosh's point that they'll honor the pass till park close. That sounds a little suspicious, esp. at WDWR, but I've never tried it.

Now wouldn't a central Fast Pass "ATM" on Main street be nice? I can dream.

I've never been turned away with an "expired" FP in any domestic Disney park, and I've used 'em at all six.

I do infrequently get a cast member who mentions something, but only in a chiding sort of way ("Next time, try to at least be *close*"), and have read some first-hand reports of the infrequent guest being turned away, particularly at new or show-based attractions, but most of the time it's not an issue.

I also have used fast passes past the 1 hour window and never had a problem at a ride. The worst anyone has ever said to me is, "You're a little late, but ok" (I came back to the ride I think around 4 hours after the time).

However, I think it can be different for the shows. I know at the Voyage of The Little Mermaid at MGM, they specifically said the fast pass is only good for the small time frame for a specific show which I guess I understand since it's not continous nonstop operation like a ride is.

Also, sometimes a 'bonus' FastPass ticket may be dispensed at a machine for another attraction. While getting a ticket for Test Track when Body Wars was still open, I received FP tickets for both Test Track AND Body Wars. They don't do this all the time, usually only during the slower seasons.

If you're looking to make the most of your time, I would suggest using TourGuideMike.com. I've used it with much success and I know others here have as well.

I forgot about the "bonus" Fastpasses!

I've gotten two of them. Both of them have been for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and both of them were given to me by the Test Track machine.

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would suggest using TourGuideMike.com.

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I'll second that. I wouldn't think of visiting WDW without it.

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Mamoosh said:

4] If you have other park annual passes or credit-card sized items in your wallet with a bar code in the same spot as your Disney passport try inserting them if an attendent is not around. I've received a fass pass using my Knotts pass, my SF pass, grocery club cards, my drivers license.

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I don't know why, but that is absolutely hilarious. Must be a slower day than I realized...

Since you are going with non-riders. Another suggestion is to have your non-rider friends walk ahead and use their tickets to get a Fastpass for the major ride in your next land while you are waiting in a ride line.

As my mom and dad have aged...they do not ride as often. They are, however, very familiar with the Fastpass system and will often go ahead and "hook us up" with additional fastpasses.

I've often considered starting a private WDW tour company based upon this practice. If you had enough tickets (at least double the number of the touring party)...you could guide a tour for the paying party and go ahead and get Fastpasses while they are riding. In severe circumstances you could send somebody ahead with a pocketfull of tickets and obtain a Fastpass for every ride on the system. Since you indeed can ride ANY time after the start time on the Fastpass, you can skip waits for all the major rides for the WHOLE DAY! A service like this might be worthwhile for those with money to spend and line adversion.

...Moosh is indeed an expert. I would like him to run my business.

...indeed talk to cast members as they will often hook you up! Sometimes I just ask nicley, and I thee receive...

*** Edited 2/23/2006 9:57:55 PM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***

Jeffrey: someone has beaten you to it:

http://www.michaelsvips.com/