FastPass

What is a FastPass?

In 1999 Disney began testing a new system that was intended to help reduce the waiting time at some of their more popular attractions. This system called FastPass was first introduced at Walt Disney World in Florida. Following its successful debut there and with the sigh of relief from Disney guests that were heard all the way to Disney corporate headquarters it was expanded to Disneyland Resort in California.

Disney’s FastPass is free and can utilized by anyone

How do I know which attraction has a FastPass option?
The theme park maps will high light those attractions that offer the FastPass

Each attraction offering a FastPass option will have signage that clearly lets you know that it is a FastPass attraction

How does FastPass work?
Each FastPass attraction will have two displays of time

The first display of time will give guests the approximate waiting time if you were to enter the attraction right then.

The second display of time indicates the window of time for a return visit if you were to get a FastPass right then

If the wait is acceptable then go ahead and enjoy the attraction. If the wait is longer than you feel is reasonable then go ahead and get a FastPass for a return appointment to enjoy the attraction later.

How do I get a FastPass?
Locate the FastPass machines for that attraction. With only a few exceptions they are located very near the entrance to the attraction.

Insert your park admission ticket into the FASTPASS machine and receive a FASTPASS coupon with a time range to return. Typically time range for a return visit is about an hour.
When it's your time to ride, come back to the FASTPASS return line and hop on the attraction with little or no wait.
Have your FastPass coupon out and ready to show the cast member manning the FastPass return line. A cast member will collect your FastPass from you prior to entering the attraction itself.
Disney Note: Each person will need a FastPass in order to enter the attraction. The only exception is for those guests under three years of age that did not require a park admission.


Is there anything else I should know about FastPass?
You will not be able to request a specific time. The time you are assigned and is printed on your FastPass coupon is the time you will be admitted to the FastPass line for that attraction

Each FastPass coupon equals once admission to that attraction. Your FastPass will be collected as you enter the attraction

Each FastPass machine is specific for the attraction that it is in front of. In other words to get a FastPass for Indiana Jones attraction you will need to go to the Indiana Jones attraction and get your FastPass coupon.

The wait time after entering the FastPass line is generally around five minutes
If an attraction breaks down during the time you were to return you will be admitted to the FastPass line anytime later on during the day once the attraction is back up and running.
Your FastPass expires after the time printed on your FastPass coupon. For example, if your coupon states a return time of between 1:00pm and 2:00pm and you arrive at 2:10pm you will not be admitted to the FastPass line.

Initially Disney’s FastPass system would not issue guests multiple FastPass coupons. Each person using his or her park admission ticket would only be issued one FastPass for the time frame indicated on the FastPass coupon.

You would be allowed to obtain a subsequent FastPass 5 to 10 minutes after the beginning time on the FastPass coupon you are holding. For example, if currently hold a FastPass for Space Mountain that has a return time of between 1:00pm and 2:00pm at approximately 1:10pm you can go to any FastPass machine and obtain another FastPass.

In practice let’s say you obtained a FastPass for Indiana Jones that had a return time of between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. You return to Indiana Jones at 1:15pm enjoyed the ride and exit at 1:30pm. You could then walk over to Big Thunder Mountain and the FastPass machine there would issue you another FastPass.

During the summer of 2002 Disney made an upgrade to the FastPass computer system, at Walt Disney World in Florida. The computer system has been upgraded to allow guests to be issued a second ticket within 45 minutes of the first one depending on guest demand. It is now possible for a guest to be issued two Fast Pass Tickets within the space of an hour and attend both rides within that timeframe. Apparently, processing power prevented the previous system from keeping track of what tickets had been already used. It is likely that at some point Disneyland Resort will follow with similar changes.