Fastpass+ for Beginners

You can Fastpass shows and character experiences too.

By: Justin

Fastpass+ is a system at Walt Disney World that allows all guests (regardless of if your hotel is on Disney property or not) to select attractions ahead of time and make a “reservation” for free.  This reservation does not mean that you show up at the correct time and step right onto the ride, but it does allow you to queue in a shorter line.  For instance, the Standby line (non-Fastpass+ line) for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin might be 60 minutes long.  However, the Fastpass+ line might really be less than 10 minutes.

The rules:

Given the huge advantage to having Fastpass+ reservations, there has to be rules.  Here is a list of the most important rules.  (There will not be a test.  Do not stress on memorizing the rules. I am just presenting them so you will understand my strategies below).  If you want to skip past all the rules then go straight to the strategies at the bottom, they are much shorter and easier to read.  Just skip ahead. 

• Guests with reservations at a Walt Disney World resort can make Fastpass+ reservations for their entire stay starting 60 days before their check in date.
• Guests with valid park admission, but no resort stay reservation can make Fastpass+ reservations starting 30 days before EACH day they plan to attend.  In other words, you cannot make all the reservations starting 30 days prior to your first day.
• The time you can make your Fastpass+ reservations starts at 7:00 AM, Eastern Time.
• You can make up to 3 Fastpass+ reservations for each day.
• Fastpasses are linked to your park tickets so you have to present you ticket or Magic Band when you go to get in the Fastpass line.
• When you are at the park, after you use all three of your reservations, you can make one additional reservation.  When that one has been used, you can make one more, etc.
• When you get a Fastpass+ reservation, it will be good for a one hour window.  You can show up at the attraction anytime during that hour to use the Fastpass+ reservation.
• As soon as that one hour window starts, you can actually make that next Fastpass+ reservation, even if you have not used the existing reservation yet. 
• For Fastpass+ there are tiers of attractions.  You can make ONE tier one reservation ahead of time, and up to three tire two reservations, but of course not more than three total.

Tier 1 attractions for each park. (up to one pre-reservation per day)

• Hollywood Studios - Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania!
• Epcot - Frozen Ever After, Soarin', Test Track, Illuminations: Reflections of Light, Epcot Character Spot
• Animal Kingdom - Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey

Tier 2 attractions for each park. (up to three pre-reservations per day)

o   Hollywood Studios - Beauty and the Beast, Disney Junior Live on Stage!, Fantasmic!, Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, Muppet Vision 3D, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Star Tours, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Voyage of the Little Mermaid

o   Epcot - Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, Living with the Land, Mission: SPACE, Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush

o   Animal Kingdom - DINOSAUR, Expedition Everest, Finding Nemo - The Musical, Flights of Wonder, It's Tough to be a Bug, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Meet Favorite Disney Pals, Primeval Whirl, Rivers of Light

o   Magic Kingdom – All attractions at the Magic Kingdom are the same tier, essentially tier 2. 

The Strategies:

Here are some basic strategies for your Fastpass+ reservations.  These are your goals on Fastpass+ reservation day.  Note that you WILL NOT get exactly what you want when you want it.  That is OK.  Don’t stress over it.  You will get to do everything and you will have a good time.  We have never booked exactly what we wanted for Fastpass+ reservations, and it all worked out.

1. Make your reservations as soon as you can. (30 days out if staying offsite, 60 days out if staying at Walt Disney World Resort)
2. If you are going to Animal Kingdom, try to get Flights of Passage.  If you are not staying onsite you will likely NOT get this reservation.  But, you can check.
3. If you are attending one park on the day of your reservations, make the reservations for the times between about 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. That is the busiest part of the day and you will appreciate some shorter lines.  Yes, it is true that you will not be able to make any additional reservations until after you use your last Fastpass, but the early morning hours are less busy and the lines are shorter.  You should still be able to pick up one or more reservations after the 3:00 pm timeframe.
4. If you plan to park hop around noon, consider making your Fastpass+ reservations at the second park.  Again, early morning is less busy, and you will appreciate being able to get on some attractions at the second park in the afternoon.

These are just some guidelines for the newer system. The most important thing is to have a wish list so that you can focus on which rides you want the most. Then understand that you won’t get everything on your wish list but you will still have a great time.  It never works out exactly like we want since we usually stay offsite but we always have fun and get to ride everything.  If you don’t get exactly what you want, don’t stress.  IT WILL BE OK.  IT WILL BE FUN.

Hope to see you on Main Street USA.  Wish I was there now.