Future Disney CEO

Many people know of fastpass, but not everyone knows how to actually use it, or how to use it to maximize the amount of time you spend on rides, not waiting on line. My family and I never wait in the regular queue and I like to think we have become experts on the use of fastpasses. So here are some of my favorite tips and misconceptions.

Though this is commonly known, you would be surprised how many people don’t understand it. FASTPASS IS FREE. FOR EVERYONE. Anyone can use fastpass, whether you are staying at a Disney hotel, there for a day, or have an annual pass.

Another thing most people don’t realize is that you can use the fast pass anytime after the first hour begins. Once the time period ends does not mean you can’t use it. We discovered this after being about an hour late. The CM informed us that it was fine and it clearly says on the back anytime after the alloted time is good. Meaning, get there early, get fastpasses, wait, get more fastpasses, and you can use em all day! The key is, get there early.

Now for some unknown history about the Fastpass:

Each attraction inside a Disney theme park has a certain capacity, or a maximum number of guests that attraction can handle in a given operating day. For example, a ride-through attraction like the Haunted Mansion may be able to carry 2,000 guests per operating hour. During a 12-hour operating day, 24,000 guests can experience this attraction. Similarly, a live theatrical show with a theatre capacity of 3,000 guests that has five shows during the day has a capacity of 15,000 guests. When Fastpass is installed on the attraction, a certain number of those seats (in the theatre, on the ride vehicles, etc.) are set aside. The remainder are made available on a “stand-by” basis to other park guests.

At the start of the operating day, the enabled attraction’s wait is pre-set at a given time (for example, 45 minutes). The number of Fastpasses available is evenly divided into time intervals (usually five minutes, but sometimes three minutes). As guests obtain Fastpasses for the attraction, time intervals are depleted, moving the return time to later in the day. For an average attraction, the Fastpass wait will generally stay near this initial pre-set time.

In the case of very popular attractions, such as Splash Mountain or other major thrill rides, time intervals are depleted quickly, resulting in longer virtual waits. Sometimes, all the time intervals will be depleted early in the day, at which point Fastpasses are no longer obtainable for the given attraction during that day.

So recap: get there early, use them whenever you want, and remember, ITS FREE! TAKE ADVANTAGE!!

Have A MAGICAL Day,

FutureDisneyCEO