Through the use of FastPass+ you can minimize the amount of time you wait in line and maximize the amount of Walt Disney World rides, characters, and entertainment you experience. A FastPass+ is like getting a reservation for a particular time for Walt Disney World's most popular attractions.
UPDATE!: FastPass+ has now been officially replaced by the Disney Genie+ program which is a new paid Walt Disney World FastPass program that is replacing the previous FastPass+ program. This paid service will include access to quicker lines to 40 attractions in all parks plus the option to pay for access for certain individual attractions. Take me to the Walt Disney World Genie+ Guide>
With these FastPass+ tips you will be able to maneuver the crowds and allow your group to experience more popular Walt Disney World experiences in a shorter amount of time.
This article provides an overview of the FastPass+ system, tips on which attractions you should use FastPass+, and advice on how the Walt Disney World FastPass+ system works.
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Walt Disney World FastPass+ Rules and Overview
The FastPass+ system may seem complicated from the outside, but these simple tips and tricks should help you to become a true FastPass+ master capable of building a perfect day at Walt Disney World.What is Walt Disney World FastPass+?
It is a ticket for a specific attraction, show, or experience that allows park guests to skip the line and go into an express line to experience the fun faster. FastPass+ tickets are available for the most popular attractions, character experiences, and entertainment.
What does Walt Disney World FastPass+ cost?
The Walt Disney World FastPass+ system is free to everyone who purchases a Walt Disney World ticket. While there are no fees associated with the FastPass+ system the FastPass+ tickets run out quickly and must be booked in advance to get the best availability.
How do you get a Walt Disney World FastPass+?
Guests that are staying on site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can make FastPass+ reservations up to 60 days in advance of check-in for the entire stay. Guests staying offsite can make reservations up to 30 days in advance of each day of their park visit.
Guests select three preferences from a list of attractions and entertainment options per day.
Once you choose your attractions and experiences, you are given a choice of hour-long blocks of time to experience the attraction using the faster FastPass+ line.
How to Use a FastPass+?
Each FastPass+ has a return time window and you will choose these return windows when you book your FastPass+ prior to your visit. When the time on your FastPass+ card arrives, simply go to the attraction and get in the FastPass+ line. You will scan your park ticket or Magic Band with the Cast Member at the front of the line and then scan your ticket/Magic Band one more time before boarding the attraction. This line is typically much shorter than the main Standby queue.
FastPass+ Basics and Rules
Let's start with the basics! FastPass+ can be confusing, especially if you're a Disneyland vet, but no worry! We're here to help. Here are the most basic rules to understand about using FastPass+
Advance Reservations
If you are a guest staying at a Walt Disney World hotel, you can book your FastPass+ times up to 60 days in advance. If you're staying offsite, you can book up to 30 days in advance of each day.
One Park Per Day
FastPass+ only lets you make reservations for one park per day. So if you plan on starting off at Magic Kingdom and moving to Animal Kingdom, you can only book FastPass+ reservations for one of those parks for that day.
Three Advance Reservations Per Day
You are allowed to make three FastPass+ reservations per day for the park you plan on visiting. Once you fulfill your three FastPass+ reservations in the parks, you can then visit a FastPass+ kiosk to make another reservation.
The FastPass+ Tier System
Basically, Walt Disney World splits up the available FastPass+ options into tiers based on popularity for all the parks except Magic Kingdom. You get to pick one FastPass+ from each of these tiers per day.
Magic Bands
Magic Bands are a popular way to utilize the Fastpass+ system for guests staying on the WDW hotels. But they are not required to use the system! All you need is your park ticket.
Making Changes or Cancellations
You can also change your mind at a later time and go back in your Disney account to edit your FastPass+ reservations.
Early Magic Hour
FastPass selections cannot be made during Early Magic Hours or other special ticketed events like the Halloween/Christmas party/after hours/etc.
Disney's FastPass+ website provides an extensive overview of how to link your park ticket to your account, make FastPass+ reservations, and more.
FastPass+ Tier System and Restrictions
When it comes to choosing your three FastPasses per day, you pick each one from a certain tier list that Walt Disney World offers for Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Basically, these tiers are based on popularity. Tier 1 is going to include the most popular and sought after attractions, for example.
Animal Kingdom does not have a tier system but it does have one restriction. Guests can only book one Pandora- The World of Avatar attraction option per day.
Here are the FastPass+ options for Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios.
FastPass+ at Animal Kingdom
Guests can only book one Pandora- The World of Avatar attraction option per day. So you will need to choose between Flight of Passage or Na'vi River Journey if your family is interested in Pandora.
Animal Kingdom FastPass+ attraction options:
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na'vi River Journey
- Primeval Whirl
Animal Kingdom FastPass+ entertainment and character options:
- Rivers of Light
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo – The Musical
- It's Tough to be a Bug!
- Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
We recommend choosing from these attractions to make your reservations:
- Expedition Everest- Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Avatar Flight of Passage* (Only one per day)
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na'vi River Journey* (Only one per day)
- Rivers of Light
Rivers of Light is a breathtaking show taking place nightly- if this show is on your top priority, then use a FastPass+ to reserve your spot!
FastPass+ at Epcot
Epcot is one of the Walt Disney World parks that offers a tier system. You can select one reservation from the Tier 1 group and two reservations from the Tier 2 group.
Select up to one reservation from this list:
- Frozen Ever After
- IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
- Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
- Soarin' Around the World
- Test Track Presented by Chevrolet
Select up to two reservations from this list:
- 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
The three most popular attractions from both lists are:
- Soarin' Around the World
- Frozen Ever After
- Test Track
FastPass+ at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is one of the Walt Disney World parks that offers a tier system. You can select one reservation from the Tier 1 group and two reservations from the Tier 2 group.
Select up to one reservation from this list:
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
Select up to two reservations from this list:
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
- Fantasmic!
- Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (moves to Tier 1 August 29)
- Disney Junior – Live on Stage!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Toy Story Midway Mania!
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
The three most popular attractions from both lists are:
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
- Toy Story Midway Mania!
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
- Fantasmic!
*Note on Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge– we still do not know when Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will be available for FastPass+ selections.
FastPass+ at Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is the one park that doesn't separate your FastPass+ selections by tier or offer any restrictions which can be pretty handy! Here are the list of options to choose from for your three FastPass+ selections per day.
Magic Kingdom FastPass+ attraction options:
- 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
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- The Barnstormer
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid
Magic Kingdom FastPass+ entertainment and character options:
- Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
- Meet Cinderella and Elena at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Meet Rapunzel and Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
- Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
- Mickey's PhilharMagic
- Monter's, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
We recommend using your three FastPass+ reservations for:
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
These three rides tend to be the most popular at Magic Kingdom so you can expect long standby lines. However, you should really pick the reservations for the attractions and experiences that your family is the most interested in. As long as you plan on getting to Magic Kingdom bright and early at opening, you can cross off some popular rides first thing in the day.
FastPass+ Kiosk Locations by Park
After you've used your three FastPass+ reservations in one day, you can then head to a kiosk and select another FastPass! Here is where you can find these FastPass kiosks in each park.
Magic Kingdom
- The Diamond Horseshoe
- Mickey's PhilharMagic
- Stitch's Great Escape
- Jungle Cruise
Animal Kingdom
- Entrance to Asia
- Festival of the Lion King
- Island Mercantile
- Disney Outfitters
Epcot
- Character Spot in Future World
- Innoventions East Breezeway
- International Gateway
Hollywood Studios
- Sunset Boulevard
- Corner of Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard
- Toy Story Mania!
- Muppet*Vision 3D
You can also book new FastPass reservations after you've used your advance reservations for the day using the My Experience App and save yourself the trip of walking from kiosk to kiosk.
FastPass+ Booking Strategies and Tips
For many guests visiting Walt Disney World, this can be one of the most daunting tasks of your vacation planning. Here are our some tips and strategies to help you plan your FastPass+ reservations!
- The sooner you schedule your FastPass, the wider range of options will be available.
- Some people even set an alarm to the exact moment they can book! This can be helpful if you're trying to get a FastPass reservation for really popular rides that often run out.
- For those really hard to get FastPass reservations, book those first when your reservation window opens up then go down the list to easier to get options.
- Since so many of the most popular rides (Flight of Passage, Slinky's Dog Dash, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, etc.) always run out so quickly this helps you prioritize the order you reserve everything.
- If you plan on park hopping, make your FastPass reservations for the second park you plan to visit each day.
- This way you can spend your morning rope dropping attractions at the earlier park and taking advantage of low wait times.
- If you're planning on spending the entire day in one park, it's best to just schedule your FastPass arrival times for the late morning and early afternoon. This way you can finish your FastPass times and still have a reasonable chance at getting more for the rest of the day.
- If your goal is to ride nearly everything you can with a FastPass then scheduling them all earlier in the day will help you do that. Keep in mind though this may also interfere with those shorter ride times in the first few hours the park is open.
- It may be wise to think twice before booking FastPass reservations for night time shows.
- You cannot book additional FastPass reservations for the day until you've used your advance ones and if you have booked them for nighttime shows you will be restriced from booking more.
- If this is an issue, you may be better off looking at dining package.
- If you're booking reservations for large groups, its helpful to really plan ahead.
- Some guess recommend breaking the reservations into smaller groups and attempting to make sure everyone's FastPass reservations overlap.
Attraction Guides
If you're new to Walt Disney World, don't worry- we can help! If you're unsure about which FastPass+ to reserve for each park- it will help to review our attraction guides so you know which rides are the best fit for your group.
- Magic Kingdom Attraction Guide
- Epcot Attraction Attraction Guide
- Animal Kingdom Attraction Guide
- Hollywood Studios Attraction Guide
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Get Away Today Complimentary Concierge Services for Walt Disney World vacations!
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- Walt Disney World Cheap Food Guide
- Discount Walt Disney World Tickets
- Walt Disney World Character Guide
- Guide to Epcot Food and Wine Festival
- Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation
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