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Easy Guide to Disney's FastPass+ For Off-Site Guests
FastPass+ Guide for Off-Site Guests
If you want to skip lines, get quickly seated at a show or meet Mickey without a wait, then Disney's FastPass+ System has you covered. It's a virtual queue that lets you join the line without being at the ride.
Here's our FastPass tips and tricks plus step-by-step instructions on how to set up your FastPass+ account.
Disney's FastPass+ is a reservation system that allows you to book time slots for select attractions, rides and character meetings in all 4 Disney parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Selections can be made 30 days in advance for Off-Site Guests (longer if you are staying in a Disney hotel).
Rides & Character Meets: You pre-selelct times slots for 3 attractions in one park each day. This gives you a 1 hour window to arrive at your selected attraction or ride and skip the lines. You enter a line specifically for FastPass+ holders and skip a lot of the Standby line to reach the front quicker.
You can usually arrive 5 minutes early or 15 minutes late and still gain access.
On some rides (such as Flight of Passage in Pandora) you will miss a lot of elements that are viewable in the regular line, so you might want to head back to the line just to check out what you missed.
Shows: If you have a FastPass+ for a show, you'll need to check the advised arrival time, which will depend on the time of the show.
How Do FastPass+ Time Selections Work?
There are 3 options for selecting times:
By The Hour: You can select a specific time, such as 3pm.
By The Range: You can select a time range of Morning, Afternoon or Evening.
Random: You can let the system give you suggestions.
Is There A Limit to FastPasses?
You are limited to selecting 3 FastPasses in advance. But, as soon as you've used your final FastPass+ you can select additional reservations for the same day using the Disney app or kiosks located in the parks. There's no limit to how many you can use.
How Much is Disney's FastPass+?
Unlike Universal's Express Pass, there is no extra charge to make Disney FastPass+ selections - everything is included in the price of your park ticket.
Do I Need to Get a FastPass+ Ticket?
No, there's no extra ticket needed, you can either use your park ticket or you can purchase a MagicBand to wear on your wrist. (Free if you are an Annual Passholder or staying at a Disney Resort). Both are embedded with an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip.
The MagicBand can save you hunting around in a bag each time you need it. You can purchase a MagicBand inside the parks or you can order online: Disney MagicBand
Are All Attractions The Same? What are Tiers?
In Magic Kingdom, yes, all attractions are on the same level and you can book 3 in advance for each day you are visiting.
Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios have a tiered system on the most popular attractions. You can select FastPasses for three attractions in advance each day: One attraction from Tier 1 and two attractions from Tier 2.
Epcot Tier 1 Attractions:
Frozen Ever After, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, Soarin', Test Track.
Hollywood Studios Tier 1 Attractions:
Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Midway Mania.
Animal Kingdom Tier 1 Attractions:
Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey.
Everyone who is going to enter the FastPass line. For instance, if you have a little one who wants to meet Minnie, everyone going through the line will need a FastPass, not just the person who is doing the character meet.
Is there a Limit To How Many Selections I can Make?
Yes, you can only select a maximum of 3 FastPasses in one park each day. You can add additional FastPasses once you have finished your 3rd FastPass experience. You can either download the App and use your mobile device to select more FastPass attractions, or you can use any of the kiosks inside the park. The App is also very helpful to help you check time slots while you are at the parks. WiFi is free throughout all the Disney parks.
What Are The Hard To Get FastPasses?
Currently (May 2018) the hardest FastPasses to get are:
Flight of Passage - Pandora: World of Avatar, Animal Kingdom
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
Frozen Ever After - Norway Pavillion, Epcot
Slinky Dog Dash & Swirling Aliens Saucers - Toy Story Land, Hollywood Studios
NOTE: Now that FastPasses are available for Toy Story Land (open June 30th) this MIGHT take a little pressure off some of the other hard to get FastPasses. We can live in hope 🙂
What Attractions Should I Use FastPass On?
You'll need a strategy that fits the make-up of your group. Families with toddlers will have different goals than families with teens. Some attractions for FastPasses have low lines, so it might be a waste. Other attractions are highly sought after and can be very difficult to get.
Most Popular FastPass+ Attractions:
Least Popular FastPass+ Attractions
These attractions rarely have lines long enough to warrant a FastPass:
Tricks & Tips for Hard to Get FastPasses for Off-Site Guests
If you're an Off-Site guest (like us) you'll almost certainly find all the FastPasses gone for the popular rides. But don't despair! Try these tips:
Lower the Numbers: If you are trying for several people in a group, try booking for just 1 person, then use the Modify option to add others.
Refresh Often: If you selected mornings, switch to afternoons and the whole FastPass system will refresh. Select evenings, and it will totally refresh again. Keep changing times to keep refreshing the system. The Tier 1 attractions are always at the top, so you'll see them immediately if they come available.
Keep Checking: People cancel FastPasses, so it's always a good idea to check back several times a day, especially a day or two before you plan to visit the park and on the day of your visit while you're in the park.
If All Else Fails: 1) Rope Drop (get to the park before opening time) on a none Extra Magic Hours morning.
2) Try to book a breakfast slot prior to park opening so you'll be in the park and ready when the lines open.
3) Join the line just before park close - as long as you join the line BEFORE the official park closing time, you'll be able to wait in line, which should be much shorter than during the day.
What Not to Do with FastPass+:
Don't Book Early FastPasses: If you are heading to the parks early, don't waste FastPasses on early morning selections. Most rides and attractions have much shorter wait times early morning. Try for FastPasses a couple of hours after park opening. The busiest time of the day is going to be from mid morning to mid afternoon. Try to arrange FastPasses early in that period to maximize your time.
Don't Book FastPasses Late in The Day: You can't book additional FastPasses until you've used your 3rd selection. If you plan on making more FastPass+ selections, don't book your last FastPass+ for late in the day or the evening.
Don't Spread FastPasses Too Far Apart: You'll want to cluster them reasonably close together so that when you use the final FastPass, you can add more. It also means if you have a Hopper ticket, you'll be limiting your time to one park, which kind of defeats the object of a Hopper ticket.
Don't Waste Passes: If you arrive at an attraction with a FastPass+ and the line is short, don't use the FastPass. Just jump in the regular line and while you're in line change your FastPass for something else.
How to Create an Account for Disney's FastPass+
1) Head to MyDisneyExperience and follow the steps to create an account.
To get started with Disney's FastPass, create an account at the MyDisneyExperience
2) Once you have an account, connect everyone in your group so that you can all book Disney FastPass+ slots together. Click the 'Connect additional reservation, tickets or friends.
3) To make your Disney FastPass+ selections check ALL names of all guests who will be taking the attraction with you:
Select everyone in your group who you want to make selections for.
4) Under the 'Make Plans' heading, click the FastPass+ icon then follow onscreen instructions. Select the date you want to make selections for. Now select the park you want to select time slots for. You can only select one park each day.
Select the date you want to make Disney FastPass selections for
5) You will then be given the list of FastPass attractions, along with 3 different time zones - Morning, Afternoon or Evening. Select the time zone that suits you, then select your time slot from the 3 options given. You can click 'View Details and More Times' to get a full range of time options.
6) Each selection has a 'View Details and More Times' link, so check to see where each attraction is located and make sure you are not running to different ends of the park to make it in time.
Check the locations of each of your Disney FastPass+ selections
7) Your Disney FastPass selections will be shown on the next page, just click 'Confirm' once you are done:
8) You see a confirmation page showing all your selections for all attractions, parks and dates. You can add more by clicking "Add FastPass+"
9) You can log in at anytime to view all your selections, make amendments, make new selections or cancel FastPass+ selections.
Finally, Have a Practice!
If you haven't used the FastPass+ service before, then don't leave it until you're ready to book to learn the ropes. Have a practice in advance. As soon as you have your account set up and your tickets registered to your account, you'll be able to book FastPasses 30 days in advance. Have a play around, get to know the layout and learn how to use the system in advance. Just remember to cancel all your practice FastPasses.
When that 30 day window arrives, you'll be FastPassing like a pro!
For full details see Disney's Website: Fast Pass+
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