9 FastPass Mistakes To Avoid Making During Your Disney World Visit
One of the biggest perks when it comes to booking a visit to Walt Disney World is the opportunity that both onsite and offsite guests to select three front of the line passes for each day you’re at the theme parks. When utilized correctly Disney’s FastPass system can shave loads off the time you spend waiting in line. However, many first time visitors are uncertain of the hows/whens/and whys of FastPass booking. To help you get the most out of this FREE perk, we here at MickeyBlog are sharing 9 mistakes visitors commonly make when it comes to booking and using FastPasses.
1. Skipping FastPass Bookings All Together
When it comes to FastPasses, a lot of first-time guests aren’t really certain if you’re eligible for them or how they work. A common misconception that I encounter is that its a paid for service (like Universal Studios’ Express Pass) or that FastPasses are only available to onsite guests. Neither of these are true. Anyone who has purchased Walt Disney World tickets in advance is entitled to 3 FastPasses (for 1 park only) for each day that you visit the parks! Many visitors make the mistake of not taking advantage of this awesome perk but it pays to do a bit of research as the system can really work to your advantage.
2. Missing Your FastPass Booking Date
At Walt Disney World, guests have the ability to pre-book your FastPasses which is really helpful when it comes to planning out your Disney days. Guests staying onsite can book your FastPasses using your My Disney Experience Account 60 days from the start of your vacation. Offsite guests also have advanced booking but must do so at the 30-day mark. When it comes to booking FastPasses, it can be a little bit like making dining reservations at Disney. The popular attractions book up quickly and missing your booking date may mean that you miss out on getting FastPasses for popular attractions like Flight of Passage, Slinky Dog Dash and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Definitely, mark your calendars!
3. Not Checking Last Minute Availability
Didn’t get the FastPass you wanted at the 30-day or 60-day booking window? That doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. On the contrary, like dining reservations, the FastPass booking system is always changing as other travellers make adjustments to their plans. Couldn’t get a FastPass for Flight of Passage? Missed out on Slinky Dog Dash? Keep checking the system on My Disney Experience regularly. You might be surprised at what opens up! I advise checking right up until the day you are at the parks. In my many trips to Disney, I’ve been able to take advantage of a lot of last-minute FastPass availability!
4. Using Your FastPasses First Thing In the Morning
If you’re an Early Bird and plan on arriving at the theme parks as soon as they open, spend the first few hours of your days in Standby Lines and not using your FastPasses. The first few hours of the day are the least busy when it comes to crowds and wait times. This is a perfect time to squeeze in several attractions that you DID NOT get FastPasses for. Save your FastPasses for slightly later in the morning when lines, crowds and Orlando temperatures start to soar!
5. Using FastPasses Even if the Stand-By Line Is Short
FastPasses are designed to help visitors cut down on the time that you are waiting in line. Because you only have 3 of these a day to use initially it’s important for visitors to choose wisely. If you booked a FastPasses for Splash Mountain and arrive to see that the Stand By line is only at 10 minutes then don’t use that FastPass! instead, use the My Disney Experience App to see if you can reschedule you Pass for something with longer lines. You can make FastPass swaps right up until you officially check in at the FastPass touchpoints on the attractions. Making last minute changes is something Disney regulars do all the time to minimize time spent waiting in line.
6. Forgetting About 4th 5th or 6th FastPasses
So much emphasis is placed on booking those first three FastPasses each day that a lot of first time visitors don’t realize that after your initial three FastPasses are used up, it is possible to get more. As soon as you’ve checked in for your third FastPass, you can visit your My Disney Experience App or any of the kiosks and book a 4th FastPass. Once you’ve used your 4th you can book a 5th etc. Guests also have the ability to switch to a different park for your 4th 5th, or 6th selections. However, those with dreams of dozens of FastPasses should take note: You are still only able to book FastPasses at one-hour intervals. Therefore there’s only so many you can squeeze into the day. Also. availability becomes extremely limited the later it gets. You may technically be able to book a 6th FastPass at Magic Kingdom but by 4pm there may no longer be any available.
7. Booking Your Original Three FastPass Selections Too Late in the Day
If you’re looking to take advantage of booking 4, 5 or 6 FastPasses during your stay then stay away from using your FastPasses to booking things like nighttime shows. This means that you won’t use up all of your three original FastPasses until later in the day making it unlikely that you’ll be able to book any extras!
8. Using FastPasses on Less Popular Attractions
All FastPasses are not created equal! Using a Fastpass for Expedition Everest where lines frequently exceed 40 minutes is much better than using your FastPass for It’s Tough To Be A Bug which you can typically walk right on to. To truly maximize your FastPass experience, it’s always good to choose options where you know the lines will be long. This is where a bit of research comes in handy! Planning sites like MickeyBlog are filled with articles covering the best uses of FastPasses at each park. These are really invaluable in helping you make well-informed selections for attractions guaranteed to have longer lines.
9. Don’t Miss Your FastPass Window On The Day
Disney gives you a one hour window to head to the attraction you have a FastPass for and to check in to use it. You can keep tabs on all of your FastPasses via your My Disney Experience App or by checking the FastPass kiosks located throughout the parks. Be sure to keep careful tabs on your FastPasses as failure to show up during the correct time is as good as throwing FastPasses away. Disney will allow you to arrive up to 15 minutes late for your FastPass but after that, you’re out of luck!
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