What is FastPass+?
FastPass is Disney’s reservation system for rides. The system is slightly different in California versus Florida. The system in Florida is controlled through your “My Disney Experience” account on your official Disney World app. It is also called FastPass+ in Florida.
Who Uses It? And How Does it Work?
Anyone with a Disney World park ticket can use the FastPass+ system. You basically “reserve” a time slot to ride a specific ride during a one hour window on a given day. There are only so many allotted slots per hour reserved for FastPass+. Once those slots fill up, guests either have to reserve an earlier or later time, or go with the standby line. You will still have some waiting in the FastPass+ line, but is significantly less and certainly a lot less than the two plus hours you may find for standby on popular rides like Avatar: Flight of Passage.
Each guest may choose up to three FastPass+ selections within a single park on a given day. Your time windows for each FastPass+ selection may not overlap. Example: You can get a FastPass+ for Pirates of the Caribbean from 10:35-11:35am, but you cannot get a pass for Space Mountain from 11:15am-12:15pm. Those two slots overlap and you will either not be able to make the reservation in the first place, or you’ll have to drop and rebook one of your selections if you were attempting to modify one of your FastPass+ reservations.
Can I get more?
After you use the three FastPass+ selections, you may use your app or a kiosk (at multiple locations within each park) to choose additional passes if available. There should be a cast member there to help you select new attractions.
So What Steps Do I Take to Use FastPass+?
Get registered/create a profile
Whether you are staying on Disney property or not, you should create a “My Disney Experience” profile and download the official Disney World (My Disney Experience) app.
Download the App
Plan and Choose
Plan your Fastpass+ rides as early as you can. If you know which rides you want to go on, you can reserve them as early as 60 days out if you have a Disney World Resort reservation. For anyone staying off-property you can make Fastpass+ reservations 30 days out. These should correspond to your plans for daily park attendance.
Fastpass+ selections can go quickly. It’s a good idea to know which rides generate long lines quickly. Top tier rides like Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and the Seven Dwarves Mine Train all go quickly. So do Peter Pan’s Flight and Enchanted Tales with Belle.
Sometimes they have a tiered system in effect. Epcot makes you choose between Frozen Ever After, Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track, and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
More on knowing which rides are most popular in a moment.
Using in the park
When you approach the attraction, you will see two lines—Standby and FastPass+. When you have a FastPass+ for that attraction (we’ll say Space Mountain) you go to the FastPass+ line, scan your Magic Band and it should turn green. If it turns green you proceed further into the FastPass+ queue. You’ll have to scan your band at least one more time before you get on the ride.
If your MagicBand does not turn the Mickey scanner green, it may be for a few reasons.
- You’ve got the incorrect time for your FastPass+. Note: Disney is a lot more strict on times than they used to be, so if you’ve missed it by a long-shot you’ll likely be turned away. If it is within a few minutes (they can check on their iPads), they may let you proceed if you have a legitimate reason for being late.
- Your Magic Band has a glitch. We experienced some bands not being checked in properly into the system when entering the park. Usually they checked one of the rest of us, and reconnected the band into the system.
- You don’t actually have a FastPass+ for that attraction. You may try for an additional FastPass+ for that attraction once you’ve used your initial three online chosen selections. Try your app or find one of the FastPass+ kiosks inside the parks (on the map).
What else should I know? What was that about knowing which passes are most popular?
I think it’s helpful to know which are the most popular FastPass+ selections. This can of course change, but use the following guidelines to help you plan.
“Choose One” groups and most popular FastPass+ selections by Park.
Magic Kingdom:
Choose One Group: None- there are no choice tiers
Other possible FastPass+ selections: Enchanted Tales with Belle, Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, The Barnstormer, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Meet Ariel at Her Grotto, Meet Cinderella and Elena at Princess Fairy Tale Hall, Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater, Meet Rapunzel and Tiana at Princess Fairy Tale Hall, Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater, Mickey’s Philharmagic, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid
Most Popular: Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Epcot:
Choose One Group: Frozen Ever After, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth (going away), Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot, Soarin’ Around the World, and Test Track.
Other possible FastPass+ selections: Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival, Journey into Imagination With Figment, Living With the Land, Mission Space, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Spaceship Earth, Turtle Talk With Crush
Most Popular: Frozen Ever After, Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track
Hollywood Studios:
Choose One Group: Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story Mania!, Slinky Dog
Other possible FastPass+ selections: Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Fantasmic, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectactular!, Muppet*Vision 3D, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Star Tours-The Adventure Continues, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Most Popular: Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Toy Story Mania!, Alien Swirling Saucers
Animal Kingdom:
Choose One Group: Na’vi River Journey, Avatar Flight of Passage
Other possible FastPass+ selections: Dinosaur, Expedition Everest-Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo- The Musical, It’s Tough to be a Bug!, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost, Primeval Whirl, Rivers of Light, and UP! A Great Bird Adventure
Most Popular: Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, and Dinosaur
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That’s it! If you have further questions, please comment below or contact me. Good luck and see you in the parks!
Other Posts You May be Interested In:
Understanding MagicBands at Disney World
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