Fastpass+ - What is it? What do we Fastpass?

What is a Fastpass? 
Fastpasses allow you to bypass the standby line and wait in a shorter line for select attractions. Picture this: You arrive at Magic Kingdom and your little one is finally tall enough to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train! You make your way to Fantasyland, but when you arrive at the attraction’s entrance the wait time is already over an hour. With a Fastpass for the ride you’ll simply come back during your designated one-hour window and wait in a much shorter line for the ride! 

How does it work?
When I took my first trip to Disney World in 2004 Fastpasses were simple – you arrived at the attraction that you wanted to ride and went to the Fastpass machine that was nearby. It would print out a ticket with your return time on it, and you would return later during your window of them to ride the attraction. The was the case when Howard and I took our first trip together in early 2012 as well. At this time, though, only select attractions had Fastpasses, and you could only have one Fastpass at a time. 

By our trip in 2013 more and more technology had come to the parks and with it big changes. The My Disney Experience became a thing – so did Magicbands, and eventually Fastpass+. Fastpass+ is what we have now, and have come to know over the last few trips. Some people love it, some people don’t. When it first came to be I wasn’t sure what to think. “Who wants to plan their days two months in advance?!” It is incredibly helpful, though! And as a travel agent Fastpasses, and dining reservations, are a big part of what I do. 

With the Fastpass+ system most attractions in the four Walt Disney World theme parks have the Fastpass option. As of right now the attractions in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios are not part of the Fastpass system. Guests that are staying at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, and select other hotels, can make their Fastpass selections through the My Disney Experience app or the Walt Disney World website starting at 60 days out from your arrival at the Resort. Offsite guests can make their selections starting at 30 days out. 

What does this mean exactly? Each guest is allowed to reserve up to 3 Fastpasses per day in advance. You can book just one, just two, or all three. One all of your Fastpasses have been used for the day you may book more (based on availability) using the My Disney Experience App or the in park kiosks. 

When it is time to use your Fastpass simply return to the attraction, scan your Magicband or park ticket at the Fastpass entrance, and enjoy the attraction with a shorter wait time!

Children under the age of 3 do not require a ticket and therefore do not require a Fastpass for attractions that they will be riding with a guest that has a Fastpass.

Are there restrictions?
Yes. Hollywood Studios and Epcot have Fastpass Tiers. For one tier you can only book one attractions, but you can book two from the other in addition to the tier 1 attraction. 

The Fastpass Tiers at Hollywood Studios are changing again! Starting on February 19, 2020 there will be a new alignment of the Fastpass tiers, and Smuggler's Run will be available as one of your Fastpass+ options! 

Hollywood Studios Tier 1 Attractions Guest can only book 1 Fastpass -
Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run
Slinky Dog Dash 
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

Tier 2 Attractions 
Alien Swirling Saucers
Toy Story Mania!
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue
Fantasmic!
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Disney Junior Dance Party!
For the First Time in Forever: Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Muppet Vision 3D
Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage

Epcot Tier 1 (Guests can only book one Fastpass from this tier)
Epcot Forever
Frozen Ever After
Test Track 
Soarin’

Epcot Tier 2
Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission: Space
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Spaceship Earth
Turtle Talk with Crush

Animal Kingdom does not have Fastpass tiers, however guests can only use a Fastpass for one Pandora attraction. 

What do we suggest Fastpassing?
These or our suggestions, and what we normally use our Fastpasses for. By no means is the best or only strategy. 

Animal Kingdom
1. Flight of Passage (If you haven’t done it before, or you absolutely love it then this should be your first pick.)
1a. Kilimanjaro Safaris (If Flight of Passage isn’t a must for you, or all of the Fastpasses were gone before you could get one, the Safari is a must! It is a favorite of ours, and it is a good use of a Fastpass. 
2. Expedition Everest
3. Dinosaur or Kali River Rapids

Hollywood Studios
1. Slinky Dog Dash
1a. If Slinky Dog Dash is not available we suggest either Rock n Roller Coaster or Tower of Terror. 
2. Star Tours 
3. Show of your choice or leave empty. 

Epcot 
1. Test Track or Soarin’
2. Mission: Space
3. Spaceship Earth 

Magic Kingdom
1. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
2. Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain or Splash Mountain
3. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin (This one may not be on everyone’s Fastpass list, but our kids love it, so until they don’t anymore it gets a Fastpass from us. 

No two trips Fastpass selections will be exactly the same. This is what our Fastpass selections normally look like, but your list may be completely different! 

What are your MUST FASTPASS attractions?!

Are you ready to start planning your next magical vacation? I’d be happy to help! Contact me at miriyawhitaker@worldofmagictravel.com for your FREE quote and to start planning your next trip on land or sea. For more Disney and travel information follow me on Facebook. 

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