Fast Pass Information

BEAT THE LINES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD....

Waiting in line is no fun. Don't think Disney doesn't realize this. They do. "Historically lines have been an issue. We wanted to alleviate some of these problems. For guests this system will be a simple and fast process that will give them the flexibility to enjoy more of the fun and theme of the park "Walt Disney spokesman Dan Higgins said.

There is no additional cost for the service, which assigns guests a designated time to visit popular attractions, avoiding waiting in lines that can last well over an hour during the summer months and other busy times of year.

After you arrive at the park, Walt Disney World guests who want to avoid long lines can go to any one of the listed attractions where FASTPASS is installed and they will see three lines: Disney's FASTPASS Distribution,  Disney's FASTPASS Entrance and the stand-by entrance.  To help the guest make a decision, there will be a clock noting the window time during which they can return with no further wait if they choose the FASTPASS option and another clock showing current wait time for the stand-by line.  Should the guest choose the FASTPASS, you will simple insert your entrance tickets into the FASTPASS turnstile, which will spit out a new ticket with a designated return time and saves a the guest a space in line.  Guests are then free to enjoy the park until their designated return time.  To give the guest flexibility in their schedule, they always will have a one hour window of time during which to return.

FASTPASS Step-By-Step

Disney's FASTPASS is a revolutionary guest enhancement at Walt Disney World Resort enabling guests to have an alternative to waiting in lines for many of the most popular attractions. There is no additional charge to use the FASTPASS service. Here's how it works:

1. Ticketed guest or annual passholder enters the park main entrance gate.

2. Guest visits any attraction offering the FASTPASS service. Here, guest has the option of waiting in the regular standby line or choosing FASTPASS. To assist, there's a digital clock denoting regular wait time and the return time for FASTPASS.

3. If the FASTPASS option is chosen, a guest inserts his or her theme park ticket into the FASTPASS machine. Out comes the free FASTPASS denoting when to return to the attraction. Holders of FASTPASS are given a one-hour window for their return -- for example, 10:05-11:05 a.m. That means the guest cannot enter the attraction using FASTPASS before 10:05 but is free to return at any time during the designated one-hour window. If you arrive after your window has passed, they will not let you into the FASTPASS turnstile. There have been a few reports of a 5-minute grace period at the end of your FASTPASS one-hour window, but don't count on that.

4. Upon returning at the designated time, the guest heads straight for the FASTPASS entrance and proceeds directly to the attraction pre-show or boarding area with little or no wait.

5. Guests are able to get as many FASTPASS tickets in a day as they want. But may only use one at a time. You cannot get another FASTPASS until the one-hour window of the FASTPASS ticket you are holding begins. For example: If you have a FASTPASS for Splash Mtn. for 2:30 - 3:30, and you are right near Space Mountain at 2:35 you will be able to get a FASTPASS for that ride. If you try to get an additional FASTPASS before 2:30, you wont be able to get one. 

6. Each guest must have their own FASTPASS ticket to be admitted into the FASTPASS turnstiles. Do not have one person hold all the regular admission tickets if your group plans on splitting up. You need the regular admission tickets to obtain a FASTPASS ticket. 

7. If the ride is unavailable, broken or closed for some reason, during your FASTPASS return window, they will honor it any time that same day. You must state that you had returned and the ride was not operating.

SOURCE: Walt Disney World

Thanks to DQ & RichP for the information on this page!