FASTPASS

The most genius thing about Disney World or Disneyland is the fastpass system. It is basically a system that allows you to make a “reservation” at certain rides so you do not have to wait in long lines to ride.

The most perplexing thing to me is to see people standing in a 2 hour line when the attraction offers fastpass. I cannot figure out why anyone would want to do that! I often think it is because people don’t understand how the fastpass system works, or they think there is a charge to use it (there is a charge at Six Flags parks and Universal Studios for the same service). But at Disney, this service comes with the price of your admission ticket. Yep, folks, that’s right it’s FREE! No charge. You probably paid a pretty, hard earned penny for those tickets, so make sure you get the maximum benefits from them.

Fastpass works like this. At any attraction where fastpass is offered (no, it is not offered at every attraction), there will be a fastpass line to get your tickets. There is usually a digital looking clock above the machines that tells you the window in which you will return to get on the ride. Put your park ticket into the machine and out pops a little ticket that shows you an hour window that is your reserved time to get on that ride. Come back at that time, and get into the fastpass line where you will skip the stand by line and still get to ride your favorite attraction!

Great system, right? But don’t think you can run around and grab up fast pass tickets for every ride that offers them all at once to avoid the lines. You can only hold one fastpass at a time or if your ride time is far in the future, you can get a new one every two hours for a different attraction.

Other things to note? Don’t arrive early, not even one minute, because the cast members will not let you through the line until your time is up. You can go any time during the hour window, and while I have read that they may turn you away after your hour is up, that has never happened to me. Just make sure you return on the same day. The next day, your pass won’t be valid.

One last thing to note—there are a limited number of fast passes for each attraction. Sometimes, on the more popular rides, these fast passes are gone in the first few hours of park opening. So, if you want to hit these attractions, and you want to get a fastpass, make sure to get them early!

Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom
Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios
Soarin’ Over California at Epcot
Rockin’ Rollercoaster at Hollywood Studios

One last time, for those of you who didn’t get it—fastpass is FREE and it gives you back some extra time to discover the magic! Don’t miss out!