If you're planning a Disney World trip, you've probably heard a lot of conflicting information about the new Fastpass+ service. This "line-skipping" service has been changing rapidly since it replaced the old Fastpass system in the end of 2013. The great news is with all the recent changes, the new Fastpass+ system has become a terrific way to skip lines all day!
This post has general information on how Fastpass+ works. I will also soon be adding a post on how to best use Fastpass+.
This post has general information on how Fastpass+ works. I will also soon be adding a post on how to best use Fastpass+.
How Fastpass+ works - it's not as complicated as people think!
Fastpass+ is simply a reservation system allowing you to skip the regular line for Disney attractions. After you've bought Disney park tickets or a Disney package, you can use their website or smartphone app to make reservations for 3 rides per day in advance. Here are some basics to remember:
Fastpass+ is free
Unlike similar services from other parks, Disney does not charge for Fastpass+ usage.
You can make Fastpass+ reservations starting either 30 or 60 days in advance.
You can make three Fastpass+ reservations per day in advance
At the park you are able to make more reservations (see below for details), but in advance, you are limited to three a day.
Your reservations are for one-hour windows, and they can't overlap
For example, you may make a reservation for Peter Pan for 10:00-11:00, and then a reservation for Winnie the Pooh for 11:00-12:00. Overlapping is not allowed.
Your ticket contains your Fastpass info
You may have a regular looking ticket, or maybe a "Magicband" (basically a wristband that acts as your ticket). When approaching a ride where you have a Fastpass, head to the Fastpass entrance and tap your ticket or wristband against the Fastpass "pole". Mickey's head on the pole will turn green and you're in!
You can change your mind
Decide you don't want to ride Peter Pan but prefer Dumbo? No problem - you can change it either on your smartphone or at one of the many Fastpass kiosks scattered throughout the park.
You can't schedule more than one Fastpass for an attraction with your three pre-scheduled Fastpasses.
Even if you want to ride Space Mountain three times, you can't make your three Fastpass+ rides all for Space Mountain.
Your three pre-scheduled Fastpasses for a day must all be at one park.
You can't schedule two at one park and one at another park.
At Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you can only select one of a group of "top-tier" attractions with your three pre-scheduled Fastpasses.
At Epcot, those attractions are:
At Hollywood Studios, the supposed "top-tier" attractions are:
NEW - You are able to schedule additional Fastpass+ times after you've used your first three Fastpasses
As of Monday, April 28, Disney allows you to schedule additional Fastpasses, one-at-a-time. This is great news for in-the-know people to help you skip out on more lines. A few things to note about this.
Fastpass+ is free
Unlike similar services from other parks, Disney does not charge for Fastpass+ usage.
You can make Fastpass+ reservations starting either 30 or 60 days in advance.
- If you're staying at a Disney hotel, you can make your reservations 60 days before the start of your trip.
- If you're not staying at a Disney hotel, you can make reservations up to 30 days in advance.
You can make three Fastpass+ reservations per day in advance
At the park you are able to make more reservations (see below for details), but in advance, you are limited to three a day.
Your reservations are for one-hour windows, and they can't overlap
For example, you may make a reservation for Peter Pan for 10:00-11:00, and then a reservation for Winnie the Pooh for 11:00-12:00. Overlapping is not allowed.
Your ticket contains your Fastpass info
You may have a regular looking ticket, or maybe a "Magicband" (basically a wristband that acts as your ticket). When approaching a ride where you have a Fastpass, head to the Fastpass entrance and tap your ticket or wristband against the Fastpass "pole". Mickey's head on the pole will turn green and you're in!
You can change your mind
Decide you don't want to ride Peter Pan but prefer Dumbo? No problem - you can change it either on your smartphone or at one of the many Fastpass kiosks scattered throughout the park.
You can't schedule more than one Fastpass for an attraction with your three pre-scheduled Fastpasses.
Even if you want to ride Space Mountain three times, you can't make your three Fastpass+ rides all for Space Mountain.
Your three pre-scheduled Fastpasses for a day must all be at one park.
You can't schedule two at one park and one at another park.
At Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you can only select one of a group of "top-tier" attractions with your three pre-scheduled Fastpasses.
At Epcot, those attractions are:
- Soarin'
- Test Track
- Maelstrom
- Epcot Character Spot
- Illuminations
At Hollywood Studios, the supposed "top-tier" attractions are:
- Toy Story Mania
- Rock 'n Roller Coaster
- Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage
- Fantasmic!
NEW - You are able to schedule additional Fastpass+ times after you've used your first three Fastpasses
As of Monday, April 28, Disney allows you to schedule additional Fastpasses, one-at-a-time. This is great news for in-the-know people to help you skip out on more lines. A few things to note about this.
- You can't schedule additional Fastpasses until you have used your first three (or the time window for them has passed).
- You must schedule your additional Fastpasses at a kiosk in the park, not on your smartphone.
- You can schedule these Fastpasses for any ride that has Fastpass availability. There are no restrictions such as "you rode it before", "you're in a different park now", or "you already chose a top-tier attraction". If there's availability, it's yours!
- Once you've used your fourth Fastpass, you can return to a kiosk and schedule a fifth. Once you've used the fifth you can go schedule a sixth. And so on, and so on...
Fastpass+ is easy to understand, but more difficult to use right
That's about it on how Fastpass+ works. It's really not much more difficult than making restaurant reservations.
The big question, of course, is how to use Fastpass+ properly to skip out on the most lines possible! With the new ability to schedule additional Fastpasses, it has gotten very complex to figure out the "optimal" way to use Fastpass to skip as many lines as possible. I plan on writing another blog post on how to accomplish this! In the meantime, if you have any questions or you're trying to figure out the best Fastpass+ scheduling for your upcoming vacation, please feel free to contact me or post a question in the comments!
The big question, of course, is how to use Fastpass+ properly to skip out on the most lines possible! With the new ability to schedule additional Fastpasses, it has gotten very complex to figure out the "optimal" way to use Fastpass to skip as many lines as possible. I plan on writing another blog post on how to accomplish this! In the meantime, if you have any questions or you're trying to figure out the best Fastpass+ scheduling for your upcoming vacation, please feel free to contact me or post a question in the comments!
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